It’s not over until it’s over.
So, down 6-0 to Airdrie’s Bert Church High School Chargers with 50 seconds remaining in the game, the Springbank High School Phoenix went to work.
A two-play, 50-yard touchdown drive on offence and an interception for a TD later, the Phoenix shocked the Chargers 12-6 in Rocky View Schools Association Tier 2 football semifinal action at Springbank.
“It was like magic, I can’t really describe it,” said Phoenix senior linebacker Tanner Randell, whose interception of a Braden Massey pass, followed by a 50-yard rumble for a touchdown, was the game’s defining play with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. “They had run that play before. I recognized it and I played up on him.”
The play of which Randell spoke was a pass play from Massey to Karl Louder, who’d beaten the Phoenix on that same play earlier in the game for a big gain.
“We did a whole lot better than the last time we played this team,” a disappointed Louder said following the game. Springbank blanked Bert Church 51-0 in their Sept. 28 regular-season matchup.
“It’s a heart-breaking loss.”
The Chargers scored the game’s first TD in the second quarter, on a 17-yard run by Louder. They missed the extra point to lead 6-0 right down to the final minute of the game played in an icy north wind laced with snow.
Following a Chargers punt, the Phoenix offence took to the field for what most figured would be their last chance to score. Quarterback Levi Jackson hit senior wideout Adel Boussenane with a 40-yard bomb on the first play from scrimmage before hitting him again in the endzone with a 10-yard strike. The Phoenix went 50 yards for the score in about 20 seconds. The Chargers blocked the extra point, and were elated at not going down 7-6 with half a minute to go.
Not content to sit on the tie, the Chargers fielded the ensuing kickoff and went right to the attack on offence. Massey gunned the ball at Louder about 12 yards down the middle of the field, only to have Randell break on the ball and return it for a pick 6 and the Phoenix victory.
“It’s tough,” said Chargers head coach Andrew Kirk, who was fine with his offence going for it in the game’s final seconds. “Our offensive coordinator called the game. He called a great game. He felt that play was going to work. So that’s what we went with.
“There’s no doubt our own compete level was way better than it’s been in a while.”
Phoenix head coach Tony Lucas is getting used to this kind of cardiac playoff performance from his guys.
“We’ve had a few of these over the years,” he recalled of his team’s recent playoff performances. “It just seems we’ve had last-play field goals. We’ve had overtime in the playoffs.
“We’ve been fortunate to come out on the right side of these, several times. I’m very grateful today, too.”
