Houston Academy stops Barbour County's final drive

Houston Academy’s Lawrence Johnson met Barbour County receiver Jh’Corri Milton at the 1-yard line, and he wasn’t about to let go in making the game-saving tackle as the Raiders held on for a 10-7 victory at Northcutt Field on Friday night.

“My adrenaline was pumping so hard,” Johnson said. “I saw him release in the flat and I had to pick him up.”

Barbour County, out of timeouts, was in a fourth-and-goal situation from the 7 with 1:07 left in the game and decided to go for it instead of attempting a game-tying field goal.

Quarterback Emanuel Thompson sprinted to his left and saw Milton, who three plays earlier had caught a 65-yard pass on fourth down to get the Jaguars down to the HA 9-yard line.

Thompson again connected with Milton, but this time Johnson was right there to meet him after the catch at the 1 and drive him backwards for the tackle.

“I wasn’t about to let go,” Johnson said. “I didn’t want to get yelled at by the coaches,” he added with a grin.

The Raiders ran two plays to run the clock out after the final stop.

Houston Academy improved to 4-1 in region play, 5-2 overall, while Barbour County is now 2-3 in the region and 3-4 overall.

It was a big night for Johnson, who also caught the Raiders’ only touchdown pass with 2:27 to play in the third quarter when Justin Cullifer put a nice touch on a pass and the lanky Johnson came down with it in the back of the end zone for a 15-yard score.

Lawson Brakefield’s extra point kick tied it at 7-7.

Barbour County had scored on its first drive of the game, going 69 yards in 10 plays to put it in the end zone when Thompson ran in from 1 yard out and also kicked the extra point.

The deciding points came when Brakefield nailed an 18-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter after Barbour County’s defense had made a great stand after HA had a first-and-goal situation at the 5.

Damion Harris ran it down to the 1 on first down, but then he was dropped for a yard loss on second down and got back the yard on third down before the Raiders elected to kick the field goal for the lead.

“I felt like we needed three points,” Houston Academy coach Jimmy Addison said. “We had three plays and couldn’t get it in.”

The Jaguars, who used their final timeout before the Raiders decided to attempt the field goal, set up on the 30 for its final drive after the kickoff.

Barbour County converted a fourth-and-2 situation when Thompson gained 2 to the 40.

Three plays later, facing third-and-5 at the Jaguar 45 with just over three minutes left, the snap got away from Thompson and he dove on it back at the 36.

Facing fourth-and-14, Thompson hit Milton streaking behind the secondary and he took off down the right sideline before Harris caught up and pushed him out of bounds at the HA 9 with just under two minutes left to set up the exciting final series of plays.

“It was the perfect play call,” Barbour County coach Juan Williams said of the final Jaguar catch that came up just short of the end zone. “The same kid that didn’t get in the end zone is the same one that caught the bomb.

“He had good effort.”

The Jaguars were playing once again without starting quarterback Takwain Whigham, who injured a knee several weeks ago, and running back Nicholas Johnson, who was out with turf toe.

Davaul Blackmon led Barbour County with 73 yards on 14 carries.

Houston Academy was led by Harris, who rushed for 93 yards on 20 carries.

The Raider offense struggled most of the night, but came to life on a fake field goal attempt which led to the first HA score.

Brakefield lined up for a 44-yard attempt late in the third, but James Todd took the snap and sprinted 13 yards down to the Jaguars’ 14 to set up the Cullifer to Johnson touchdown pass.

“We were moving the ball and wanted to keep some momentum,” Addison said of the fake.
Addison wasn’t happy with his team’s play in the first half.

“I sure wasn’t wanting to practice tonight, but at halftime we were headed there,” Addison said.