Southeast Raleigh at Harnett Central on Nov. 20, 2009.
Nov 21, 2009
For the second time in a month, Harnett Central defeated Southeast Raleigh to stay undefeated on the season, but this time it was to remain alive in the N.C. High School Athletic Association's 4-A state playoffs.
The Trojans handled Southeast Raleigh the first time the two met, but it took an extra period to determine the postseason winner as Harnett Central moved to a 27-21 victory.
Jamar Satterwhite caught a 40 yard touchdown pass from Gabe Henderson on the fifth play of the game for Southeast Raleigh, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead early.
However, Harnett Central put together a drive that lasted nearly six minutes, running 13 plays. Behind runs by Jarrod Spears and Brian Taylor, Central got into the red zone. Taylor broke a 15 yard touchdown run with 3:38 left in the opening quarter to tie the game at 7-7.
It appeared as if neither team came ready to play defense early.
On Southeast Raleigh's ensuing possession, the Bulldogs drove 66 yards on the ground, and Henderson got into the end zone on an 11 yard run to put the Bulldogs up 14-7.
Southeast Raleigh's defense forced a punt on Harnett Central's next possession, and that opened the door for Southeast to go up on the Trojans by multiple scores. However, the Bulldogs offense also stalled, and they were forced to punt back to Harnett Central.
The Bulldogs went into the break with a 14-7 lead.
That lead didn't last long in the third quarter, though.
On the opening possession of the second half, a big kick return by Torin Walker and a 33 yard pass from Taylor to Walker set up a two yard touchdown run by Spears.
Spears' touchdown and Taylor's extra-point tied the game at 14-14.
After the defense forced a second Southeast Raleigh punt, Harnett Central struck again on a three play, 61-yard drive. Walker caught another touchdown pass from Taylor, this time a 54 yard catch with just 3:07 left in the third quarter.
Harnett Central led 21-14 going into the final quarter.
It didn't take Southeast Raleigh long to score in the fourth quarter, though. After two fourth down conversions, including one fourth and nine situation where Keith Tucker made an acrobatic catch, Southeast Raleigh's Kendall Moore punched into the end zone from three yards out, tying the game at 21-21.
Harnett Central had an opportunity to set up a field goal with under a minute to go, but the Trojans could not get close enough to the goal posts to attempt the field goal.
Instead, the two teams went to overtime.
In high school overtime periods, each team gets the ball on the ten yard line and gets four downs to score. The overtime process continues until one team wins.
Southeast Raleigh went on offense first in the overtime period. On first down, Tommy Branch got the carry for no gain, then picked up four yards on second down. The Bulldogs had to go to the air on third down to try and get into the end zone.
Henderson got the snap, but a Harnett Central defender got through the offensive line and forced Henderson to rush his throw. In addition, Henderson's intended receiver slipped, and Harnett Central's Lemonte Taylor picked off the pass, ending Southeast Raleigh's possession.
Harnett Central got the ball on the ten yard line, and on first down Taylor broke a 10-yard run and dashed into the end zone nearly untouched.
With the win, Harnett Central advances to 13-0 on the season, and will host Middle Creek in the third round next Friday. The Mustangs defeated Hillside on Friday night, 24-19.
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