How East Webster overcame botched fake field goal to win first MHSAA title
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STARKVILLE — East Webster football was lined up to attempt a 28-yard field goal. A successful kick would’ve given the Wolverines an eight-point lead in the MHSAA Class 2A championship game with five and a half minutes remaining.
East Webster pulled out a surprise though with a fake field goal. It failed emphatically, with the holder lateralling to the kicker who was swarmed in the backfield for a loss of eight yards.
That play seemed like it was going to be a turning point in favor of Heidelberg, who hadn’t scored any points since the second quarter. It wasn’t. East Webster (14-1) produced a turnover after the fake field goal and a game-sealing touchdown run on fourth down to win 28-16 at Davis Wade Stadium on Dec. 6.
“I put us in a bad position right there, but they answered the call,” East Webster coach Ron Price said.
The championship was East Webster’s first in program history.
“The state championship trophy case is right across from my classroom,” Price said. “I look at it every single day, and I’ve dreamed about putting the gold football in that trophy case. Monday, it becomes a reality.”
Three plays after East Webster’s fake field goal, Heidelberg (12-3) threw a 25-yard pass to cross midfield. However, the receiver, Alrekus Graves, fumbled and East Webster recovered with 4:28 remaining.
East Webster drove back into Heidelberg territory, but faced a fourth-and-13 at the 28-yard line. Kross Avent, one of two quarterbacks utilized by East Webster, scrambled for a touchdown on a broken play with 1:53 left.
“Well, it really wasn’t the right decision,” Avent said. “I got to throw the ball there. But I saw an opening and I wasn’t going down. It means everything. You’re going to have to bring it to get me down right there.”
Avent was 6-for-15 passing with 158 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He was East Webster’s leading rusher too with 47 yards. Cooper Stidham, who split time at QB with Avent, threw for 163 yards.
East Webster wide receiver and defensive back Lakendrick Potts was the game’s MVP with seven receptions, 191 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and six tackles.
Price said he believes Potts should’ve been the MHSAA Class 2A Mr. Football winner over Heidelberg quarterback Chase Craft.
“I hate to say it, but I think they got the 2A player of the year wrong,” Price said. “He’s been doing it all year. We didn’t have a lot of attention on us to begin the season. Lakendrick Potts has been an unbelievable football player, offensively and defensively, this whole entire football season. Everybody in the state of Mississippi got to see that tonight.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: East Webster beats Heidelberg in MHSAA 2A football championship game
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