Photo by Cody Thorn
by Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
MANSFIELD— Despite the playoffs not starting for another week, the Arlington Seguin Cougars and Mansfield Summit Jaguars found themselves playing in a de facto playoff game, with the winner claiming the last postseason spot in district 3-5A Division II.
In an action packed game with multiple momentum shifts, Seguin came out on top 23-22 after a failed Hail Mary pass by Summit as time expired.
“We understood that we are where we are because of preparation,” Seguin head coach Joe Gordon said after the game. “Tonight really revealed that. We knew that tonight was going to be a tough game, we knew it would go all four quarters, and we also knew it would be a game of situations. We just wanted to get to the next play.”
Summit started the game strong. After forcing a quick three-and-out, quarterback Ian Gebhardt called his own number and went 54 yards to the endzone to put the Jaguars in front. A bad snap on the extra point resulted in Gebhardt scrambling in for the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.
Seguin had two more drives in the first quarter and both resulted in turnovers. Two plays after the initial touchdown, Jamil McCowan came up with a fumble recovery. However, Summit was able to capitalize. On the next drive, Sebastian Pena came up with a bobbling interception to keep the Cougars at bay, ending the quarter at 8-0.
Summit was unable to take advantage of the interception as well, and a failed fake punt quickly shifted momentum towards Seguin. The clock ran for most of the second quarter, but the Cougars were able to get on the board midway through on a 21-yard pass from Chevy Andrews to G’Manii Smith on the post route. The two point conversion pass from Andrews to Cam Henderson tied the game at 8 going into the break.
Seguin rode its momentum into the second half, forcing the Jaguars into a quick punting situation. Taking advantage of excellent field position, it was Johnaven Polk who put the Cougars in front. Out of the wildcat formation, Polk plowed through two defenders and walked in from 10 yards out. The two-point conversion from Andrews made it 16-8.
The Seguin defense came up with a big three-and-out to give the offense good field position. Once again, it was Polk who scored from four yards out making it 23-8 after the extra point.
Then, like a light switch, momentum shifted back to Summit. Gebhardt called his own number, and as time expired in the third, he punched it in from 16 yards out to put the Jaguars back in the game.
Summit got the ball back quickly and pulled it back within one point when Adarion Nettles punched it in from two yards out. Seguin responded by driving deep into Jaguar territory while killing plenty of clock. The Summit defense ultimately turned the Cougars away on fourth down and got the ball back with just over a minute to go.
Two quick completions got the Jaguars across midfield, but because of a penalty at the beginning of the drive, Summit lost 10 seconds off the clock due to a runoff.
With just seconds remaining, the Jaguars lofted up a prayer, but it fell incomplete. The play ended Summit’s season, and sent Seguin to the postseason as the fourth seed from the district with a final score of 23-22.
Summit’s season comes to an end with a record of 6-4, falling just one win short of postseason play. Meanwhile, Seguin lives to see another week, and they will face Prosper Walnut Grove in the Bi-District round of the playoffs next week.
