'It was nuts': Terry Sanford football wins on Hail Mary vs. Scotland in NCHSAA playoffs

Terry Sanford football had a Hollywood ending Thursday night in the second round of the NCHSAA 3A state playoffs.

With 2 seconds on the clock and the ball just across midfield against Scotland, Bulldogs quarterback Jaylen Wright heaved a desperation pass toward the end zone.

The Hail Mary was tipped by a Scotland defender before Terry Sanford receiver Patrick Shook hauled it in for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.

“Wow. … It was nuts," Terry Sanford coach Bruce McClelland said.

REDEMPTION:No turnovers: Anthony Quinn Jr., Seventy-First football get redemption on J.H. Rose

ROUND 2 SCORES:NC high school football playoffs scores: NCHSAA second round in North Carolina

The play gave the seventh-seeded Bulldogs a 58-55 win over No. 10 Scotland (7-5). Terry Sanford (10-2) will travel to No. 2 Eastern Alamance (11-1) for a third-round game on Nov. 18.

“It’s one of those games where it’s back and forth, but you just believe," McClelland said. “The last Hail Mary, all five of the wideouts said, ‘Throw the ball to me.’ ”

After starting quarterback Dante Garcia took a big hit and exited the game late in the fourth quarter, Wright was forced to play the final series for the Bulldogs. He's no stranger to making plays; Terry Sanford has a package for the junior that gives him a chance to showcase his skills.

“It’s wild. Just for him to be that cool under pressure and come in for the last four of five plays was amazing," McClelland said.

But McClelland wasn't surprised that Shook ended up with the ball. The senior leader has consistently been Terry Sanford's top receiver throughout the season.

“When the ball was caught, I couldn’t really see who it was, but I would have bet it was Shook," McClelland said. ". … He’s just always in the right spot.”

Laurinburg Exchange reporter Brandon Hodge posted the game-winning play on Twitter. Watch it here:

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: NCHSAA football playoffs: Terry Sanford beats Scotland on Hail Mary