LITTLE ROCK — Senior quarterback Gage Jensen ran 28 times for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, and threw for another score, in Alma’s 21-20 victory over Mills in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs Friday night at Mills Stadium.
Alma (7-4) will play at Camden Fairview, the top ranked team in Class 5A, in a quarterfinal game next week.
The victory came five days after the death of the father of Airedales Coach Todd Dilbeck from a lengthy illness.
Dilbeck said his father was buried Thursday in Oklahoma, but would have wanted him to coach Friday.
“He would have kicked my butt if I didn’t,” Dilbeck said. “The thought of not coaching never entered my mind.”
Mills (7-4) was led by senior fullback Dwayne Davis, who rushed 29 times for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns.
But the Comets missed 2 of 3 extra-point attempts and lost 2 fumbles.
Sophomore place-kicker Seth Linker was 3 of 3 on extra-point attempts for Alma.
“They played really well,” Mills Coach Patrick Russell said. “We did, too.”
Alma, down 20-14, took the lead for good when Jensen threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Gage Battles with 4:14 left in the third quarter.
Jensen finished 13 of 15 passing for 82 yards.
Mills went up 20-14 when senior slotback Floyd Pugh, a member of the state’s top 400-meter relay team last spring, swept 63 yards around right end for a touchdown with 7:24 left in the third quarter.
Jensen also played safety for the first time this fall and made an important stop on Mills’ final drive, tackling Pugh for a 1-yard loss on firstand-10 from the Alma 31.
Mills lost a fumble two plays later at the Alma 36, and the Airedales drained the final 4:30 off the clock.
The game was tied 14-14 at halftime.
Davis scored on a 1-yard run with 9:32 left in the first quarter, but junior place-kicker Omar Avance missed the extra-point attempt.
Jensen scored on a 5-yard run with 6:20 left in the first quarter.
Mills regained the lead, 14-7, on a 5-yard touchdown run by Davis, and a two-point run by Davis, with 3:28 left in the first quarter.
“The fullback, he should get a game ball,” Dilbeck said. “He kept them in the game.”
Alma made it 14-14 on a 6-yard touchdown run by Jensen with 4:56 left in the first half.
Sports, Pages 27 on 11/10/2012