Sand Rock junior quarterback Jansen Alexander rolls outside the pocket and looks for an open receiver Friday night against Reeltown. Photo by Grant Benefield, Cherokee County Herald.
Sand Rock junior quarterback Jansen Alexander rolls outside the pocket and looks for an open receiver Friday night against Reeltown. Photo by Grant Benefield, Cherokee County Herald.
SAND ROCK – Sand Rock junior Jansen Alexander is known as the Wildcat quarterback, but heÐÔÊӽ紫ý also a pretty good defender when he has to be.
With just a little over a minute remaining in a two-point first-round Class 2A playoff game against Reeltown Friday night, the Rebels were marching in for the potential game-winning score. They reached the Wildcat 30-yard line, but Alexander picked off a Jamon Matthews’ pass to seal Sand RockÐÔÊӽ紫ý dramatic 20-18 victory.
“I saw the same play earlier in the game,†Alexander said on his interception. “(ReeltownÐÔÊӽ紫ý Eric Shaw) is a great receiver, but I got a good break on the ball and I’m glad I could pull that one down for us. It was a great game.â€
“I told our kids at halftime that we’ve been a second half team all year, so thereÐÔÊӽ紫ý no reason to change now,†Sand Rock head coach Steven Chesnut said. “We just have the mindset that if itÐÔÊӽ紫ý close at halftime, then we’re going to find a way to win the game, and we did that tonight.â€
The playoff victory was ChesnutÐÔÊӽ紫ý first as head coach of the Wildcats (9-2). It was also Sand RockÐÔÊӽ紫ý first home playoff win since a second-round battle against Fyffe in 1999.
“It started off really well, but we sputtered some in the middle of the game, and thatÐÔÊӽ紫ý on me,†Chesnut said.
The Wildcats opened the game with the most explosive play of the night – an 80-yard kick return by receiver Carson Carver. Josh SarrattÐÔÊӽ紫ý extra point made the score 7-0 Wildcats.
The Rebels (6-5) responded with a touchdown of their own on their first drive. Running back Randy Woodyard scored on a 3-yard rush, but a failed PAT kept the score at 7-6.
Reeltown took a 12-7 lead on its next possession on Matthews’ 25-yard touchdown pass to Shaw. Shaw finished the game with 46 yards and a touchdown reception on four catches.
With nine minutes remaining in the half, the Rebels fumbled in their own territory. Sarratt recovered the ball, which was a much-needed break for the struggling Wildcat offense.
Sand Rock would capitalize on the turnover with a creative touchdown pass from running back Bradon Carver to receiver Carson Carver, giving the Wildcats the 14-12 lead.
The Rebels got the last laugh in the first half, however, when Matthews found tight end Latrevien O’Neal on a 3-yard touchdown pass, giving Reeltown an 18-14 advantage at halftime.
Matthews finished the game completing 12-of-16 pass attempts with 148 yards and two touchdowns.
After a scoreless third quarter, both team had one final shot in the fourth.
Sand Rock desperately needed an answer against the Rebel defense, and Bradon Carver would be just that for the Wildcats. He carried the offense the length of the 70-yard drive, capping it with a 7-yard touchdown rush that gave Sand Rock a 20-18 lead.
The senior finished the game with 104 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
With the win, Sand Rock will now travel to fourth-ranked Tanner next Friday in the second round. The Rattlers defeated Sulligent 42-14 in other first-round playoff action on Friday.
The two teams have met twice before in the playoffs (2011 and 2012), with the Rattlers winning both games.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.