It came down to two 44-yard field goals for Katy Taylor and Hastings in overtime Saturday night.

Hastings’ Leke Ojeshina got the last laugh, sealing a 24-21 win in a District 18-5A game.

The first quarter was all clock as it wound down very fast. Each team had three possessions, getting a first down, then being forced to punt.
Hastings scored first when Saheed Imoru carried the ball 1 yard for the six points.

The second quarter began with Taylor punting to the Bears. On the Bears 40, Imoru carried for 24 yards. With another first down, Hastings was 13 yards from the goal line. But an illegal procedure on the Bears forced them back to the 23. Under pressure, quarterback Jhvaughn Forde threw to Shaquille Tubman at the 5. Then from the 1 yard line, Imoru scored. Leke Ojeshina kicked the extra point giving Hastings the 7-0 lead.

With three minutes left in the half, Taylor began their drive toward the end zone. From their 20, quarterback Phillip Supernaw carried for the first down. Supernaw then threw to Cullen Pabody for another first down. And with a 45 yard pass, Nathan Terpak hit the end zone, tying the Bears at 7.
The first half was good, but the second half was better.

On the Tigers’ second possession, Supernaw passed to John Lattel for a first down. Supernaw then carried for the next first down to the 50. Marchellous Martin got a hold of the ball and ran to the Bears’ 15. With 4:16 left in the third, Pabody saw an opening and ran it in for the Tiger lead, 14-7.

Hastings answered the Tigers touchdown with a touchdown. On the Bears’ 47 and on fourth-and-one, Forde carried for the first down and more. From the Tiger 41, Imoru carried to the 22. And as the third quarter ended and the fourth began, Hastings faced another fourth down. Going for it, Forde ran passed the Tigers for one more first down. On the 5, Imoru ran it in, tying the game at 14.

On the Bears next possession, they took the lead with an Alvin Mitchell touchdown. Starting on their 45, Forde quickly tossed to Tubman who ran for the first down. On third-and-seven, Forde threw 34 yards to a covered Mitchell in the end zone, as the ball bounced off the Tiger and into Mitchell’s hands for the points. Hastings led 21-14.

But this time, Taylor answered with a tying touchdown. From their 37, on fourth down, Taylor faked a punt to hand off to Josh Thomas who ran to the Bears’37. Supernaw passed to Lattal for the first down. With 4:56 left in the game, Pabody broke through the Bears defense for a 25 yard run, tying it at 21.

At the end of regulation play, Taylor and Hastings were tied at 21. Both teams would start at the 25 yard line and have equal chances at scoring until a team did score.

Hastings got the ball first. From the 25, they didn’t get far. On fourth down, Ojeshina attempted a 44 yard field goal and kicked it right on the money for the three points.

Taylor had to score on this possession or the Bears would win. From the 25, they followed in Hastings footsteps, setting up a 44 yard field goal. It missed, giving Hastings the victory in overtime, 24-21.

“Our defense has been playing outstanding all year. Last week we played a pretty good game against Katy and we came back out this week and played hard and tough. We just need to cut down on our mistakes and if we do that, and just keep working hard, we’re getting better and better every week. I’m real proud of these guys,” Hastings coach Greg Alexander said.

“To be honest, it hasn’t sunk it yet. But of course I’m excited because that’s a step in the right direction for us getting to the playoffs. That was a huge win for us,” Alexander said.

Hastings plays Alief Taylor next week.

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