WHITE HALL -- Watson Chapel Coach Jared Dutton said he has seen his share of close losses in his three years with the Wildcats. On Friday, the young coach got to experience the other side.
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Junior quarterback Jakobi Jackson connected with senior receiver Davion White for a 65-yard touchdown with 34 seconds to play to give Watson Chapel a 41-36 victory over previously unbeaten White Hall at Bulldog Stadium.
White Hall (6-1, 3-1 5A-South) had taken a lead just 20 seconds earlier when Montrel Roberson ran in a two-point conversion after Lance Smith's fourth touchdown of the game.
It took Watson Chapel only one play to respond.
"I've been a part of some special games in my three years here, but this is the first time our kids were able to get over that hump," Dutton said. "I've been on the other end of these games, and it finally feels really good to be on the other side."
For a short period, it appeared Dutton and the Wildcats were headed for more disappointment.
Leading 35-28, Watson Chapel (5-2, 4-0) held White Hall on fourth down with 3:24 to play, but a botched punt -- the Wildcats second of the contest -- allowed the Bulldogs to take over at the Watson Chapel 44 with 2:12 remaining.
White Hall converted on fourth and 6 from the 40 when Bulldogs quarterback Cameron Walden hit senior Jon Speer for a 20-yard gain. On the next play, Smith -- who ran 26 times for 172 yards -- scored his fourth touchdown.
After an offsides penalty on Watson Chapel, the Bulldogs opted for the two-point conversion. Roberson's run put the Bulldogs ahead 36-35 with 54 seconds left.
Dutton noticed an opening on the Wildcats' next play from scrimmage.
"I had been running two-by-two all night, and I switched to (three receivers on one side)," Dutton said. "They were just misaligned. Center field was wide open. I caught it as soon as we lined up. I said, 'If we throw this and catch this, it's a touchdown.' "
It almost was not a catch. White tipped the ball to himself before finally gaining control at the White Hall 35. From there, the senior receiver ran toward the left sideline and outraced the Bulldogs defenders.
"That was just greatness," said Watson Chapel senior receiver Devontre Curry, who caught 10 passes for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. "He is so blessed. I thought he was going to drop it when he tipped it, but he pulled it in."
"My heart just sank," Dutton said of White's catch. "He's caught balls like that, and he's dropped balls just like that. Luckily, he caught this one."
White Hall's final possession ended when senior Dewon Releford picked off his second pass of the game. It was also White Hall's fourth interception of the contest.
Jackson, who suffered a hard hit on the touchdown pass to White, finished 21-of-41 passing for 370 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also ran for 54 yards. Curry caught scoring passes of 74, 15 and 6 yards. Senior JaQuan Dorsey caught a 3-yard TD pass and also ran in a 1-yard scoring run.
Smith's touchdowns came on runs of 1, 40, 2 and 20 yards. Junior Layne Hartsfield scored on a 7-yard reverse.
Watson Chapel, which led 14-13 at the half, totaled 461 yards of total offense. White Hall tallied 283 yards, with only 21 yards through the air.
Speer and Baylor Owen had interceptions for White Hall. Cequars Curry and Brandon Moye had interceptions for Watson Chapel.
Sports on 10/15/2016