MERIDIAN —
Northeast Lauderdale has seen rival West Lauderdale foil its playoff chances numerous times, as the Knights defeated the Trojans in the last eight meetings between the two teams.
Thursday night, Northeast quarterback Josh Everett was determined to end the streak, as he led the Trojans to a 21-17 overtime victory against the Knights.
Down 17-14 in overtime, Everett decided to keep the ball on a zone-read option, sprinting to the left side of the end zone and beating West defenders for a game-clinching touchdown.
“I was thinking win,” Everett said. “I don't know, it just happened. It was a read play and I just read the defender. He went inside so I just ran to the outside.”
That was more than jubilated head coach Curt Blackburn could remember. The head coach was so overwhelmed by the win, he even forgot which play he called.
“To be honest I really don't even know,” Blackburn said. “I'm just tickled right now, I can't find the word to describe it.”
The win also clinched a playoff spot for the Trojans, who locked up the fourth and final spot in Division 5-4A
“It was playoffs first,” Everett said. “It's always nice to beat our rival, but the main thing is we won and we are going to the playoffs.”
West got off to a 14 point lead in the first half, as Milon Roberts caught a 15-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, followed by a 10-yard touchdown run by Jarkeith Ruffin early in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, the Trojans could not seem to get anything going on offense, accounting for only two first downs in the first half.
“I just told the team that we stopped ourselves a lot,” Blackburn said. “We made a lot of mistakes with penalties and foolish stuff.”
After a failed onside kick to start the second half, West drove to the Trojan 15-yard line were momentum took a 180 degree turn for the Knights.
West lined up for a 32-yard field goal attempt to put them up by three scores, only Northeast had different plans, as the Trojans burst off the line to block the kick and leave the Knights with nothing to show for the drive.
From there the Trojans would take control of the game. On the next possession, Northeast drove the ball down to the West 3-yard line, where running back Stevie Sanders punched it in to bring the score to 14-7.
West would fumble the ball three plays later, and the Trojans would make them pay, as running back Phillip Everett found his way into the end zone with 2:29 left in the third to tie the game.
Everett rushed for 114 yards on the night to lead the Trojans.
“He has carried us all year,” Blackburn said. “We put the ball in his hands, and that is what we are going to do.”
West had a chance to end the game at the end of regulation when Jonathan Williams intercepted a ball in the end zone with no time remaining in the game. The West defender had a clear path to the end zone, as none of the Northeast players attempted to tackle him. Only, Williams was also unaware of the situation, and by the time he realized the opportunity, he was brought down by Trojan defenders.
With the loss, West ends the year 2-8, while Northeast improves to 5-6 with the win.
“I thought we are better,” McCain said. “We were just a play or two away from having a great year.”
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