'One play short': Springfield High playoff hopes dim after dramatic loss in final seconds
DECATUR — While the playoffs don’t officially start until Oct. 28, the Central State Eight Conference game Friday between Decatur MacArthur and Springfield High seemingly had massive playoff implications for both teams.
And it came down to the final play.
In a game both teams saw as a must-have for a playoff appearance, Decatur MacArthur shook off some mistakes to beat Springfield High 34-28 on the final play at Matheson Field on Friday.
With the score tied 28-28 and just 2.5 seconds left on the clock, MacArthur senior quarterback Brylan McHood-Jones found a wide-open Jamor Singleton on a corner route as the clock expired and the freshman hung on for the win.
More:Watch MacArthur go for the win as time expires at Matheson Field on Friday
No overtime necessary.
“The first three-and-a-half quarters, I thought we shot ourselves in the foot,” MacArthur coach Derek Spates. “They took advantage of our mistakes and hurt us. (Hartman is) a fantastic athlete, ran the ball well. We just went out and got a well-deserved and much-needed victory.”
When asked if that was how the play was designed, Spates smiled.
"I don’t know but he was the best option because he was open," Spates said. "We just said you have to put the ball in the end zone, you can’t throw it short and he was wide open and he got the ball."
McHood-Jones finished 18-of-26 for 218 yards and three touchdowns. MacArthur now needs one win in their last three games against Jacksonville (4-2), Normal U-High (3-3) and Rochester (5-1) to be playoff eligible.
Springfield High (2-4) has a steeper hill. The Senators must win out with Southeast (1-5), Chatham Glenwood (5-1) and Lanphier (0-6) remaining.
High school football Week 6: Scores from around the Springfield area
“Our kids weren’t naïve to that,” SHS coach Jon Hebb said. “They prepared all week like that, they were focused. They do everything we ask them to do and even though the score didn’t end in our favor, I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
The Senators coughed up two fumbles and junior quarterback Paul Hartman was intercepted in the red zone, but Springfield High also had some big-time plays.
Hebb put the blame squarely on his own shoulders for calling the particular play that led to the interception. Springfield High faced a second-and-goal from the MacArthur 15. Rodrick Millsap, who had a 66-yard kickoff return in the third quarter, grabbed Hartman’s pass and ran it out to the MacArthur 45. Five plays later, McHood-Jones found junior Sam Owens for the second time as MacArthur tied the game 28-28. The Generals needed to convert on two straight two-point conversions in their 16-0 run for the tie.
“I made a couple of coaching mistakes when we were down here inside the 10,” Hebb said. “We threw that pass and that was on me. After we scored (to go up 28-12), I contemplated an onside kick and I was about ready to do it and I didn’t pull the trigger and (Millsap) returned the kick for a touchdown.”
More:The Springfield area's top performances from Week 6 of the high school football season
Senior running back Bryson Thomas had an 18-yard touchdown run as Springfield High took a 7-6 lead with 6 minutes, 4 seconds left in the first half. An energized Senators’ defense forced a quick three-and-out then the SHS offense got a 67-yard TD pass from Hartman to senior Artez Hanson as the Senators took a 14-6 halftime lead.
On the opening drive of the second half, SHS marched down the field and Hartman hit junior Kameron Beckman for a 32-yard TD and a 21-6 lead. Late in the third, Hartman out-legged the defense en route to a 65-yard touchdown run for a 28-12 lead.
But MacArthur scored the final 22 points for the comeback win, including the Millsap kick return with 9.3 seconds left in the third and tied it midway through the fourth.
Despite the loss, Hebb thinks this was the best all-around game his team has played and they were motivated.
“These guys really wanted this game. I’m going to come out and say it: they feel like they’ve been disrespected,” Hebb said. “They feel like they’re a lot better of a football team than what they’re being given credit for, and I would agree with that.
“We ran into a buzzsaw last week against Jacksonville (a 51-14 loss) in the rain and things didn’t go our way. We knew we’d face a stiff test with MacArthur — they’re a heck of a football team and coach Spates has a great staff and we came up one play short.”
Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Out of reach: Springfield High faces last-second loss to MacArthur
