STANDISH — In this game of unbeatens, Bonny Eagle scored a touchdown to trail Thornton Academy 14-13 with 5:12 remaining Friday night. An extra-point kick would tie it.
But the Scots weren’t in a kick formation. They spread out with backup quarterback Connor Sirois ready for a shotgun hike and Alex Sprague in motion.
“It’s something we practice,” Coach Kevin Cooper said. “We thought we could get it so we said, ‘what the heck.’ ”
And what the heck, Sirois handed the ball to Sprague, who raced to the left sideline and crossed the goal line to give Bonny Eagle the lead and an eventual 15-14 victory.
The Scots finished the regular season at 8-0, grabbing the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage in the Class A South playoffs. Thornton (7-1) will be seeded No. 2.
“A great high school game,” Trojans Coach Kevin Kezal said. “They just made a few more plays than we did.”
Thornton made five turnovers (two fumbles, three interceptions), to the Scots’ one. Bonny Eagle also recovered four of its own fumbles.
“The ball bounced … they had some fumbles but they were able to recover them and we weren’t,” Kezal said.
The quarterbacks carried their teams. Michael Laverriere of Thornton ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns, throwing for 78 yards. Cam Day of Bonny Eagle rushed for 149 yards and a score, passing for 83 yards.
Bonny Eagle began with two mishandled snaps, pushing the Scots back to their 1. Thornton set up its first possession in Bonny Eagle territory. But from the 26, Cam Theberge made a leaping interception in the end zone.
The teams traded punts and Bonny Eagle made its only turnover. Sprague, the return man, seemed ready to let the ball bounce but touched it. Thornton recovered at the Bonny Eagle 16. Laverriere scored from the 4 for a 7-0 lead with 10:50 left in the first half,
“I was a mess,” Sprague said of the miscue. “I had to get my head straight and help my team.”
Thornton was driving for a second score when it fumbled and Arlo Pike recovered for Bonny Eagle at its 11.
Bonny Eagle drove 89 yards – keyed by a 34-yard Day pass to Theberge – and Sprague scored from the 3, tying the game with 27 seconds left in the half.
On the first play of the second half, Laverriere bolted through a wide hole for a 58-yard score.
“Except for one play, our defense played well,” Cooper said.
Thornton fumbled on its next drive (recovered by Aaron Hodgman at the Scots’ 44) Bonny Eagle’s drive stalled at the 5. The Scots got another shot and drove 80 yards. On third-and-inches from the 6, Day darted through the line and scored closing to 14-13. Then Sprague learned he would get the ball on a 2-point try.
“It meant a lot,” Sprague said. In motion, he took the handoff in stride and outraced the Trojans.
But Thornton had time. The Trojans reached their 39 when Laverriere looked for a quick slant pass to Johnny Rosario. Christian Napolitano stepped in for the interception with 3:56 left.
“As soon as I see him go for a pass, I’ve got to get there,” Napolitano said. “I turned around right in time.”
The Trojans got the ball back at their 25 with 23 seconds left. On the second play, Laverriere had to throw a desperation pass and Kordell Menard intercepted.
“Quite a game,” Napolitano said.
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