BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
The Indians had just one field goal attempt – a miss – in the first 11 games this season. But coach Casey Walraven and Alvarado put the trust in their kicker Isaiah Sanchez and Sanchez came through with the best game of his career.
Down 10 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Alvarado rallied back and Sanchez kicked the game-tying field with 35 seconds to go. Then after a Frisco Panther Creek turnover in double overtime, Sanchez nailed his third field goal of the night to send the Indians past the Panthers 44-41 in their Class 4A D1 area round showdown on Thursday at the Ford Center in Frisco.
Alvarado (12-0) will play the winner between Springtown and Sulphur Springs in next week’s regional semifinal round. Springtown and Sulphur Springs play Friday night in Prosper.
The Indians led 14-3 on a field goal by Sanchez and touchdown runs from QB Cardea Collier and RB Demarcus Belton. Alvarado was going for a 21-10 lead from the 1, but Donovan Webb striped the ball and Panther Creek recovered with five minutes in the second quarter.
Collier threw a TD pass to Lance Sansom and Alvarado led 24-13 at the intermission.
But 21 straight from the Panthers got them ahead 34-24 and in total control. They got two touchdown catches from WR Cristian Trickett and one from Parker Ord to go up 10 with 11:17 left in the fourth quarter
The Panthers D forced a turnover on downs and their offense got the ball back with 6:20 left on the clock. Collier found Belton for a 33-yard touchdown to pull Alvarado within 34-31 with 2:41 to go. Then DJ Clampitt recovered an onside kick which later led to Sanchez’s second kick.
Both teams scored in the first OT – from Collier and Trickett – to tie it at 41.
Panther Creek got the ball first to start the second overtime, but Alvarado’s Schyler Dethorne came up with the biggest interception of the season to give the offense possession.
