Spanish Fort (9-2) advances to second-round showdown at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (11-0)

Spanish Fort 23, Carver-Montgomery 22

• Toros rally for 16 fourth-quarter points to take first-round win over Wolverines

Tony Whitehead, GCM Sports
Posted 11/5/16

Wyatt Wilkinson led Spanish Fort on three fourth-quarter scoring drives including a final quarterback keeper to set up a last-second, game-winning 18-yard field goal by Matt Quinn

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Spanish Fort (9-2) advances to second-round showdown at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (11-0)

Spanish Fort 23, Carver-Montgomery 22

• Toros rally for 16 fourth-quarter points to take first-round win over Wolverines

Posted

SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Wyatt Wilkinson led Spanish Fort on three fourth-quarter scoring drives including a final quarterback keeper to set up a last-second, game-winning 18-yard field goal by Matt Quinn and a 23-20 Class 6A playoff victory.

Wilkinson, the Toros’ senior quarterback who suffered a regular-season-ending injury in week one at McGill-Toolen Catholic, returned Friday night after junior Jack Samsel went down late in the third quarter as SF trailed Carver 22-7 with 12 minutes left in the game.

“I am proud of him,” said Spanish Fort coach Ben Blackmon. “Wyatt came back for the first time tonight since the McGill game. It's been a rocky road, this being his senior year. But he was ready and he did a great job.”

After a deep Wolverines’ punt, Wilkinson took over at his own 5-yard line as the final 12-minute period started. Jalen Wayne with the Toros offensive line rushed the Toros to three first downs, including a 15-yard haul on a third-and-12 to the Carver 37.

Wilkinson also threw to Conner Hegan who advanced to the CWHS 10. From there, Wilkinson tossed a jump ball into the end zone to Trae Barry for a touchdown. With the Quinn extra point, it was 22-14 with 7:40 left in regulation.

After the SF defense held again, The Toros went 52 yards with Wayne finishing on a five-yard TD run. The try for two points and the tie failed and the score was 22-20 with 3:36 on the game clock.

Again the Toros’ defense forced a three-and-punt series. SF then drove down to the Carver 9-yard line where a half-the-distance Carver defensive penalty set the Toros up at the four.

A Wilkinson keeper to the inside set up the field goal near the extra-point mark for Quinn with just 2.2 seconds remaining.

Wayne also scored the first Toro TD in the first half on a 29-yard pass reception from Samsel. That score was set up on an interception and return by Chase White.

Carver scored on their first drive of the nighr capped by a Stanley Talley 1-yard run and later a 5-yard run by Justin Lewis.

The offensive star for Carver was place kicker Kaleb Mosley who nailed three field goals, including a 50-yarder after just missing a 48-yard attempt wide left in the second period.

Blackmon said his team never gave up hope and never gave in to defeat.

"It worked out for us, the kids believed in each other.” He said. “We came back, ran the football and got back in it. We had faith in our kicker. He's made it before. We had to get it to the 30 and Jalen Wayne and Wyatt Wilkinson and all the kids believed. It's not over yet. Hats off.”

Blackmon added that Wilkinson came back off the injured list just in time. He said Samsel’s injury would be further evaluated during the week.

Spanish Fort (9-2) advanced to the second round at Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (11-0).