Tim Daniels called it “Jailbreak.”
The Page High School Patriots will simply know it as heartbreak.
Red Bank used a jailbreak screen on fourth-and-15 for a 19-yard touchdown that proved to be the game winner for Daniels’ Lions in a back-and-forth 27-23 win. Red Bank (7-4) advanced to face Maplewood in next week’s second round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Page, which led for more most of the game, finished the season 6-5.
“It’s just a simple jailbreak screen, and it was a great call by Coach [Kraig] Campbell,” Daniels said of the quick throw and catch by quarterback Niquia McDuffie and Kameno Watson. “I’ll tell you what, this just shows how resilient these kids are.
“They never lost focus and they never lost sight of what they were supposed to do.”
Down double digits in the final quarter of what could have been the final game of his high school football career, Red Bank senior Kelvin Clay kept his emotions under control. He kept the faith, and now the Lions will keep playing.
“It just shows how disciplined this team is and how much heart we have,” said Clay, who had six catches for 75 yards and played free safety in the defense that kept the Lions close enough to complete the comeback.
Page controlled the first three quarters by capitalizing on Red Bank mistakes. The teams traded touchdowns, turnovers and missed conversions in the first three possessions.
After recovering a fumble, Page landed the game’s big shot on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Zach Mizell to Josh Brown. The Lions answered two possessions later when Danzal Owens scored on a 6-yard run.
From there, the Patriots threatened to run away and the Lions appeared happy to aid them in the effort.
Alec Breckenridge consumed a wayward option pitch and took it 17 yards for a touchdown to give Page a 13-6 lead at the break. Breckenridge intercepted an ill-advised McDuffie pass midway through the third quarter and had clear sailing to the end zone before slipping inside the the Lions’ 20. Three plays later, Streator Ward’s 27-yard field goal gave the visitors a 16-6 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
RED BANK 27, Page 23Star: Red Bank junior Kionte Davis had two tackles for loss, caused a fumble and recovered two fumbles. On a night filled with big plays, none was bigger than the strip and recovery Davis made to set up the Lions’ winning touchdown.Up next: Red Bank plays at Maplewood
“This team has responded in big moments all year,” Daniels said, “and tonight was no different.”
Red Bank’s first response came from its special teams. Donovan Hargis blocked a Page punt that Avery Hubbard returned 2 yards for a touchdown to energize the Lions and crowd.
“That play was huge,” Daniels said, “because we really needed a lift, and that gets us right back to with a score.”
Page answered quickly when Mizell hit Stephen White along the visitors’ sideline for a catch-and-run touchdown that covered 67 yards.
Red Bank’s quick answer – Owens’ second short touchdown run – set the stage for another big play on special teams. With the Lions down three and less than six minutes left, Kionte Davis sprinted downfield on the kickoff and ripped the ball from Page returner Markeise Lockridge. The turnover led to the decisive touchdown and Red Bank’s win.
“I was just thinking, I have to go get the football,” Davis said. “There was never any panic.
“We knew we had to make plays, and I knew I had to make something happen.”
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6273.