Friday night, playoff football got underway in the state of Arkansas, and the Watson Chapel Wildcats took their show on the road to face off against the Sylvan Hills Bears. The Bears, coached by Jim Withrow, entered into the game with only one loss in the regular season. The Wildcats, coached by Jarred Dutton, finished the regular season on a high as they defeated Camden Fairview. Both teams put forward a good effort, but the Watson Chapel Wildcats shocked the Bears late and pulled it off by a final of 36-35.
The Bears owned the first half, as they scored three unanswered touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jordan Washington had a very productive game for the Bears and he led the offense. The defense of the Bears opened the game getting a stop on fourth and one, giving them the ball in Wildcat’s territory.
On Sylvan Hills’ first offensive drive, it only took three rushing plays for them to find the end zone. Washington took one up the middle for a 20-yard rushing touchdown to give the Bears the lead with 9:03 to play in the first quarter.
On Watson Chapel’s next offensive possession, the Bears defense came up with another turnover. This turnover came as a result of fumble, as Wildcat’s quarterback Jaquan Dorsey fumbled the snap and Sylvan Hills recovered it at midfield.
The Bears got good field position once again, and it didn’t take long for them to take advantage. After some shifty running by Washington, Deon Youngblood ran right down the middle of the Wildcat’s defense for a 25-yard touchdown with 6:19 to play in the first quarter.
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Watson Chapel finally got things going on their next offensive possession behind the scrambling ability of Dorsey. The Wildcats drove the ball all the way down to the two yard line, but the Bears defense held and came up with a big stop on fourth and two.
The Bears then had to take it from deep in their own territory, but a couple of 3rd and long conversions allowed them to drive the ball all the way down to the Wildcat’s nine yard line. However, the Wildcat’s defense would then come up with a turnover of their own. Washington had the ball knocked out of his hand on a designed quarterback run, and the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone. That meant that the Wildcats dodged a bullet and took over from their own 20.
Dorsey then hit Devontra Curry for a 40-yard catch to put the Wildcats in scoring position. Just as the Wildcats were looking to score their first touchdown of the game, the Bears defense came up with another stop on fourth and five from the five yard line.
That stop gave the Bears another chance to score before half and they did just that. With 51 seconds left in the second quarter, Ryan Lumpkin burst up the middle of the Wildcat’s defense for a 38-yard rushing touchdown. That score made it 21-0 heading into halftime and Sylvan Hills had the momentum swinging their way.
However, the Wildcats came out of halftime with new energy and their defense forced and recovered a fumble on Sylvan Hills first offensive play of the third quarter. On the ensuing play, the Wildcats scored their first points on the game as Jaquan Dorsey hit Davion White for a 50-yard touchdown connection.
Johnathan Harris made plays all night at the defensive back position, and on Sylvan Hills second drive of the third quarter he came away with a leaping interception. The Wildcats were deep in their own territory and weren’t able to really move the ball, but that interception helped build momentum.
The Wildcats’ defense responded with a turnover on downs as Washington was sacked on 4th and long. Jaquan Dorsey then threw a deep ball to Devontra Curry that was tipped, but the ball landed directly in Currys’ hands as he was laying on his back. Curry then caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dorsey in the back left corner of the end zone. However, the extra point attempt failed and the Bears held a 21-13 advantage.
The Watson Chapel defense got another stop, and the Bears snapped the ball over the punter’s head and the Wildcats recovered it on the Sylvan Hills three yard line. Davion White then punched it in from three yards out for his second touchdown of the game, and the two point conversion was good. At that point the score was all knotted up a 21, and the momentum had swung all the way in Watson Chapel’s favor.
With 7:11 left in the fourth quarter, Sylvan Hills missed a field goal and the scoreless half continued for them. That meant Watson Chapel would take over on offense with a chance to take their first lead of the ball game.
Jaquan Dorsey led the Wildcats on a great drive as he picked up much needed yardage with his feet. Dorsey came up big on a fourth and two deep in Bears territory as he hit a slanting receiver with a pass that enabled them to pick up the first down. On first and goal, Dorsey swept to the left and ran it in from five yards out to give Watson Chapel their first lead of the game with 3:12 left to play in the fourth.
The game wasn’t over yet and Washington had plenty of time to lead his team on a scoring drive. Washington had did it with his legs all night, but on this drive he used his arm. Washington hit Lumpkin for a 35-yard pass to get inside of the red zone. Then, Washington found a wide open receiver in the back of the end zone for the game tying score.
Coach Withrow then decided to pull a sting and go for an onside kick. The Bears recovered the kick and they had 1:51 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Washington wasted no time and he connected with Youngblood for a 45-yard touchdown pass with 1:06 to play in the fourth.
Watson Chapel had one last shot to even the score, and they took full advantage. Jaquan Dorsey hit Davion White on a third and long to convert and put Watson Chapel on the Bear’s 8 yard line. Dorsey then punched it in from six yards out to bring the Wildcats within one point. Dutton elected to go for two and Jaquan Dorsey hit his receiver in the left corner of the end zone for the two point conversion.
“It’s a team full of guys who are not going to give up,” Dutton said. “They love this game, they love this team, and they love each other. This is a special group.”