West Lauderdale defeats Shannon in third round playoff game

Published 6:45 am Saturday, November 23, 2024

COLLINSVILLE — They say miracles do happen, and  West Lauderdale’s Chase Gathings knew he had to be the man to pull one off.

On second down with seven seconds left the 6-foot-8 wide receiver came down with a hail mary 42-yard touchdown catch as time expired to lift the Knights over Shannon 26-23 in the third round of the MHSAA Class 4A playoffs on Friday night.

West Lauderdale (10-3) will host two-time defending Class 4A state champion Louisville for the Class 4A North State Championship next Friday night.

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“Seven seconds, we had to throw deep, and I was the biggest man out there, so I knew I had to make the play,” Gathings said. “Kayden threw it up there and I started praying and I did it.”

The drive began after Shannon turned the ball over on downs at the West Lauderdale eight-yard line with 1:26 left in the game after a fourth down-and-two run play came up just inches short.

West Lauderdale’s Kayden Peoples (7) hands off the ball to Travion Moseley (6) in Friday night’s thrilling playoff win over Shannon. Photo by Jason Dyess

On the final the Knights went 92 yards that were highlighted by an Ashton Ratcliff 28-yard catch, and Peoples converted a fourth-and-one play with a three-yard run to set up the final play.

West Lauderdale was down 16-0 at halftime and had 54 yards of total offense in the first half.

The Knights outscored the Red Raiders 26-7 in the second half.

“I told Chase to go up and get it,” said West Lauderdale coach Brock Clay. “Kayden had a huge throw and that play was something we actually worked on this week and Chase goes up and high points and comes down with the touchdown. I am still in shock at what happened.”

Gathings had two catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Peoples finished the night 8-of-22 passing for 142 yards and two touchdowns to lead West Lauderdale.

Trey Spurgon had 134 yards passing with a touchdown and added a 9-yard touchdown run to lead Shannon. Braylen Deans had a 6-yard touchdown run for the Red Raiders (8-3).