By james art What will likely go down as one of the most entertaining football games in recent memory in Northern Nevada didn’t go Douglas’ way Friday night as Reno defeated the Tigers 42-41 in the first round of the Class 5A North Division. II Regional Playoffs.
The instant classic of a postseason contest came down to the final game.
With 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Douglas led 41-35 and Reno was threatening inside the 10.
Huskies quarterback Braylon Wilson faked a punt and called his own number en route to his fourth rushing touchdown of the night, scoring from six yards out to tie the game at 41-all with the punt on the ensuing drive.
Reno connected on the PAT, going ahead 42-41 with 19.7 ticks on the clock.
Douglas’ offense was able to get the ball into Huskies territory and set up a 54-yard field goal with two seconds left on the scoreboard.
A long field goal attempt failed to reach the uprights as the Huskies’ sideline began its celebration.
Douglas head coach Kyle Mays said after the game that the Tigers thought their best effort for a game-winning score came with a punt instead of a pass into the end zone from the Reno 37-yard line.
“We were thinking about a field goal. His wind throw from the 50 yard line is almost the same as our kicker. We just decided to go for the field goal,” Mays said.
The loss ends Douglas’ first season in the Class 5A North Division. II with a 6-5 overall record, falling in the final three contests of the season after a 6-2 start.
TALE OF THE TAPE
In the first regular season meeting between the two sides, the Huskies threw the ball 28 times in a 20-13 Tiger victory.
On Friday night, Rhyno did his damage on the ground, only throwing the pigskin in the air a total of nine times.
It was Reno junior quarterback Braylon Wilson who continued to find ways to make plays early in the postseason.
By the final whistle, Wilson had rushed for four goals and kicked for another.
“They were committed to running the football,” Mays said. “They kept running and stayed with him.”
Douglas trailed 21-19 at halftime and turned the ball over on the second offensive play of the third quarter on a fumble.
Defensively, the Tigers were able to make a crucial stop on fourth down inside their own 10 to force a turnover on downs.
With the ball back in their hands, Douglas’ offense found its stride and Zach Jackson broke free for a 40-yard touchdown, his second score of the contest.
Douglas’ 26-21 lead didn’t last on Reno’s next drive, as the Huskies drove 80 yards on 15 plays, converting a pair of fourth downs on their way to the end zone.
Wilson made it 29-26 Reno with a two-yard touchdown carry.
After a Tiger turnover on downs, Reno drove back into the end zone to take a 35-26 lead behind Wilson’s third rushing touchdown of the contest.
The two-score lead was short-lived when the Tigers countered with a 14-yard screen pass from Jackson Overd to Zach Jackson for a 14-yard touchdown.
The score brought Douglas within two, 35-33, with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter.
Douglas didn’t bother giving the ball back to Reno until Brenton Weston kicked an onside to himself, quickly giving the Tigers possession again.
The Orange and Black needed two plays to take the lead when Jackson bulled his way for a 41-yard score.
Douglas took a 41-35 lead, but Reno ended up having the final say, going 60 yards in 3:12 for a 42-41 lead in the final seconds of the game.
“We put our own obstacles in our way, and we’ve had obstacles put in our way at times,” Mays said. “Honestly, the officiating tonight was pretty poor from one particular person. I feel it made a huge difference to the game. At times we shot ourselves in the foot. Our kids played hard, they fought. It’s a shame that sometimes things don’t always even out.”
Douglas will graduate nine seniors from this year’s team, and Mays knows the season will be one that everyone will remember vividly after the emotions wear off.
“I am proud of my children and especially the senior class. Being a small group, but we pride ourselves on competing and getting better every day,” Mays said. “Once the sting of the loss wears off, we’ll look back on the season with a lot of fondness and some pretty good memories because I’m really proud of them.”