By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.com
CLICK THE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS TABS ABOVE TO VIEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GAME!
This was eerily similar to how Northwest’s playoffs hopes were washed away last year.
Last year, in a rain-soaked game against Springbrook, the Jaguars fumbled on their first possession in overtime and three plays later the Blue Devils were in the end zone for a six-point win. On Saturday, Springbrook again pushed the Jaguars to the brink on a slippery field with Northwest’s playoff hopes on the line.
But this time, the Jaguars held, outlasting Springbrook 14-11 in Silver Spring to improve to 5-3 and for now take over the fourth 4A playoff spot from the Blue Devils.
“It was the same game,†Northwest Coach Andrew Fields said. “Go put the video tape in. You’ll see pretty much the same exact game sans an overtime. We’re just happy we’re on the winning end of it this year.â€
Entering Saturday’s game, Springbrook (5-3) was in the driver’s seat, needing a win over Northwest to give themselves a very good shot at making the 4A West playoffs. The Blue Devils have games against Whitman and Blair, two teams with a combined 6-10 record, remaining.
Northwest trailed Springbrook by five points in the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association playoff points standings. The Jaguars were tied at 4-3 with Gaithersburg, whom they beat last week, and Wootton, whom they scraped out a win over earlier this season.
“We really want the playoffs this year,†Northwest senior tight end Marcus Whitfield said. “They took us out last year, so we had to get them back this year.â€
The Jaguars took advantage of their own mistake to set up their first touchdown. Whitfield, who also acts as Northwest’s punter, was lined up to punt but took a low snap. Thinking he had no time to get the kick off, he took off down sidelines for a 54-yard gain.
Four plays later, junior Hassan Dixon rushed three yards to put Northwest up 7-0, a score that held into halftime.
“I just had to make a play for my team,†Whitfield said. “My instincts just went off.â€
On Jaguars’ first offensive play of the half, senior fullback Ashton Foster took a play that is designed for a 5-yard gain 52 yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown, giving Northwest a 14-0 lead.
“I just saw it and turned it on and ran past everybody,†Foster said. “I rarely get the ball, so when I get the ball I try to make something big out of it.â€
Near the start of the third quarter, with Springbrook’s offense still struggling and Northwest on its own 1-yard line, Coach Fields opted to take the safety and back the Blue Devils up instead of risking a blocked punt, making the score 14-2.
Getting the free points seemed to energize Springbrook. On the legs of Miles Gray, the Blue Devils drove to the 16-yard line. But a Phoenix Butler-Poole pass was intercepted by Aaron Greene on the goal line. Again on its own goal line, Northwest took another safety, bringing the score to 14-4.
The Blue Devils once again mounted a strong drive. Butler-Poole connected on three straight passes for 24 yards and Gray capped off the four-play drive with a three-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 14-11 with 1 minute, 28 seconds remaining.
Springbrook junior Chris Tolbert recovered the onside kick, giving the Blue Devils one last chance. Butler-Poole hit Jordan Brown for a 14-yard gain on first down to get Springbrook to the 36-yard line.
The next two passes were incomplete, however, and Springbrook was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the second, backing the Blue Devils up to their own 49-yard line and staring at a third-and-25. Butler-Poole completed two passes but the Jaguars held the Blue Devils five yards short of a first down.
“We almost got it done,†Gray said. “We were that close. Now we’ve got to make sure we never forget that and when we’re in that again we need to always accomplish what we need to do and that’s get that W.â€
Fields joked with his team that it should finish teams off and spare him a heart attack. He won’t have much time to recharge, however. Northwest will be in need of another win next week when it squares off against 4A defending state champion Quince Orchard.
“I’m not relieved,†Fields said. “We have the best team in the state of Maryland coming up in six days.â€
BOX SCORE
Line Score
Northwest 7 0 7 0 – 14
Springbrook 0 0 0 11 – 11
Scoring Summary
Q2 -NW- Dixon 3 yard run (Cottrell Kick)
Q3 -NW- Foster 52 yard run (Cottrell Kick)
Q4 -SB- Whitfield intentional Safety
Q4 -SB- Whitfield intentional Safety
Q4 -SB- Gray 3 yard run (Kick Good)
Stat Leaders
Passing: SB- Butler-Poole 8/-5, 67, 1 INT; NW- Butler 3-11, 46
Rushing: SB- Gray 23-77, 1 TD; NW – Foster 6-73, 1 TD, Whitfield 2-53, Dixon 15-32, 1 TD, Shelton 4-22
Receiving: SB- Brown 4-35; NW – Whitfield 2-32, Markush 1-14
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