DOWN TO THE WIRE

With 2:51 left in the final quarter of the 7A Semi-Finals, Rogers High School gained another seven points, giving them a 35-21 lead. Despite the fear and cold air that filled the stadium, fans cheered on as the Hornet football players pushed towards their end zone.

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Rogers got the first two touchdowns of the game in the first and second quarter.

 

“I enjoyed it because our back was against the wall,” senior running back Kollin Robinson said. “I was excited because I love adversity, proving people wrong…Losing wasn’t an option.”

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In the second quarter, Robinson spun into the end zone and got the Hornet’s first touchdown, following with another one near the end of the quarter that tied the game. 

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“I wanted more. I wasn’t happy—I was happy, but I was still focused on the next one. I’m trying to keep scoring. I’ll be happy when the game is over and we win,” Robinson said. 

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After another Rogers’ touchdown during third quarter, senior wide receiver Kamauri Austin caught a pass from senior quarterback Jeremiah Motes and ran 40 yards to the end zone, colliding with the alumni section and returning the tie.

 

Rogers’ made another touchdown putting the Hornets behind again. Senior wide receiver Kamauri Austin broke the tie with a touchdown catch from senior quarterback Jeremiah Motes.

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“It was a pivotal moment for us getting in the end zone, making it a one possession game,” Motes said.

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In the fourth quarter, Rogers led with two more touchdowns, setting the score to 35-21.

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“I don’t want nobody to have their head down.
I’m sure everybody thinking it might be over, it might not, but we fight to the end. It ain’t over till the clock is zero,” Robinson said.

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At 1:40, senior running back Zekariah Kertis-Jones reached the end zone, putting them one touchdown behind Rogers.

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“I was just feeling happy, but I was also feeling a little bit nervous. We had to be very surgical. We had to not make any mistakes. You have to be perfect pretty much for the rest of the game,” Kertis-Jones said.

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Rogers kicked an incomplete punt at the 50-yard line during their fourth and final down, which gave the Hornets the football, half the field and 1:19 to work with. 

“I knew it was game from there because we practiced two minute every day…I knew we was going to score,” Robinson said.

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Following a 30 yard pass, Motes passed the football to senior tight end Cooper Billingsley, getting the final touchdown needed. By kicking his fifth successful extra point attempt Senior Grayson King tied  the game.

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The Hornets began the overtime on defense, and Rogers scored first. Alumni, cheerleaders and dancers stood beside the football players on the sidelines with the student section behind them, chanting “defense.” 

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“It was very, very quiet at first until we got a big stop, and it all just started getting louder and louder,” junior linebacker Kaveion Smith said.

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On the final defense, the Hornets tackled Rogers and took the football, ending the game 50-43.

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“That was so chaotic because I’ve never played an overtime ever, so it was definitely nerve wracking, but we’ve practiced so many situations, and even though we’ve never particularly practiced for overtime, we definitely practiced for situations similar to that,” Kurtis-Jones said.

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Players celebrated, took pictures with the banner, kneeled to say a prayer and hugged friends and family.

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“I wish it wasn’t this close and wish it wasn’t as nerve wracking, but it was definitely probably the most fun game I’ve ever played in Bryant, and it was just really great to finish off my last game ever at this stadium with a win,” Kurtis-Jones said. “Seeing our coach happy, crying on the sidelines, even I was shedding a few tears—it was amazing.”