Post Photo by Kacy Kincaid Drew Glover celebrates after causing the Tiger fumble.
Post Photo by Kacy Kincaid Branham Haynes makes the tackle for the Rockets.
By Kacy Kincaid
Sports Writer
FAYETTEVILLE — There was nothing left to give from either club Friday night after the Forrest Rockets (4-6, 1-3) took on the Fayetteville City Tigers (5-5, 3-1) in a region matchup.
The thriller came down to the last seconds and Fayetteville defeated Forrest, 39-37.
Forrest was the first to strike with only 24 seconds left to play in the first quarter, with a plethora of Rockets coming together to move the chains.
From the 8-yard line, Cohen Grissom clawed his way across the goal line to put the Rockets on the board.
Gavin Grissom added the extra point, and the Rockets took the 7-0 lead.
The Rocket defense was hot to start the second quarter with Jesse Lindeman getting the quarterback sack on fourth down, but neither team was able to convert until halfway through the frame.
On an eight-play drive, Kveon Henderson and Calvin Hughes worked the ball into Rocket territory, where quarterback Sam Willoughby darted into the end zone from the eight with 6:20 left to play in the half.
The Tigers attempted a 2-point conversion that failed.
On the first play of the next possession for Forrest, Fletcher Fields went on a 67-yard touchdown trek.
The kick failed, but the Rockets were in control, leading 13-6.
Only one minute later after a 38-yard run from Hughes, it was Hughes again crossing the goal line from the 23.
Colton Robinson kicked the extra point, and the game was an even 13, this score holding for the remaining 4:58 of the half.
Fayetteville City took possession to start the second half, quickly fumbling at its own 36-yard line thanks to a hard hit from Drew Glover, with the Rockets recovering.
Fields and Eli Bell carried for the necessary first downs, but it was G. Grissom picking up the 10-yard touchdown run. G. Grissom added his own extra point, the Rockets taking the lead 20-13.
Keeping up the momentum, the Forrest defense forced a Tiger punt on next possession, the Rockets taking over again on their own 30-yard line.
Stellar work from the offense landed the Rockets back in Tiger territory. With 2:43 left to play in the third, Liam Bell picked up six for the Rockets. Gavin Grissom cleared the uprights, and Forrest had a healthy 27-13 lead.
The Hughes, Henderson, and Willoughby trio moved the ball 62 yards over four plays, Hughes darting into the end zone from the seven with 1:01 left in the third quarter.
Robinson split the uprights, closing the gap 27-20.
Early in the fourth frame, the Rockets cushioned their lead to 30-20 after a 28-yard field goal from Gavin Grissom.
Fayetteville City remained steady, taking over possession at its own 20-yard line. On second down, Willoughby dropped a dime to wide receiver Alex Young to put the Tigers on the Rocket 32.
Hughes went on a 30-yard sprint, just shy of the goal line.
On the next play with 9:25 left in the game, Hughes dipped into the end zone once again. Thanks to a blocked extra point attempt from Liam Bell, the Tigers still trailed 30-26.
Not able to move the ball from their side of the field, the Rockets turned the ball over on downs on the next drive, Fayetteville City taking over on their own 30 yard line.
Hughes and Willoughby carried the load into the red zone, converting on a 13-yard touchdown run from Hughes.
The kick was good, and the Tigers took their first lead of the game with 4:14 left to play, 33-30.
The Rockets kept up the intensity. Finding themselves in a fourth down situation still on their own 32, quarterback Aiden Cantrell found Lindeman on a 38-yard pass into the Tiger’s terrain.
Post Photo by Kacy Kincaid Jesse Lindeman makes the catch to pull Forrest out of a fourth down hole.
Fields went on a 29-yard touchdown run to snag the 37-33 lead with only 1:20 left in the game.
The Tigers looked to Hughes to gain some ground, Hughes putting Fayetteville City at midfield after four plays. From midfield, Willougby found Fernando Leslie on a 17-yard pass.
After two incomplete passes and 19 seconds left to play, the Rockets were charged with a costly 15-yard penalty and the Tigers were now at the Rocket 20-yard line.
On second down, it was dependable Hughes that picked up nine yards, but was just short of the sticks.
With seven seconds remaining, Willoughby threw another incomplete pass, bringing up fourth down.
In a fourth down crunch with a mere three seconds to play, Willoughby finally connected with Leslie on a 9-yard touchdown pass to end the game.
Hughes led both squads with an impressive 210 yards on the night, Fields on his heels with 170.
The Rockets will travel to Smith County Friday for their first playoff game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Fayetteville 0 13 7 19 – 39
Forrest 7 6 14 10 – 37
First Quarter
F — Cohen Grissom 8 run (Gavin Grissom kick) 0:24.
Second Quarter
FC — Sam Willoughby 8 run (run failed) 6:20.
F — Fletcher Fields 67 run (kick failed) 5:57.
FC — Calvin Hughes 23 run (Colton Robinson kick) 4:58.
Third Quarter
F — G. Grissom 10 run (G. Grissom kick) 10:30.
F — Liam Bell 2 run (G. Grissom kick) 2:43.
FC — Hughes 7 run (Robinson kick) 1:01.
Fourth Quarter
F — G. Grissom 28 Field Goal 10:38.
FC — Hughes 1 run (kick failed) 9:25.
FC — Hughes 13 run (Robinson kick) 4:14.
F — Fletcher Fields 29 run (G. Grissom kick) 1:20.
FC — Fernando Leslie 9 pass from Sam Willoughby 0:00.
