LOUISVILLE — B.J. Bostic emerged from a cluster of celebrating fans and grinned as his coach yanked him down in a headlock.
Jefferson County had just escaped a sure loss in a Class AA second-round playoff game against Thomasville on Friday night, converting it into a historic win for a team that had never before won two playoff games in the same season.
“There was no shakeup, no nothing,” said coach J.B. Arnold, whose team trailed by three points when Thomasville scored a touchdown with 46 seconds left. “I’m going to be honest with you, as long as I can put the ball in (Bostic’s) hands ... you never know what can happen.”
The Warriors forced overtime with a 30-yard field goal on the final play of regulation, then prevailed on Bostic’s 1-yard run in overtime to clinch a 24-17 win and their first state quarterfinal appearance. The Warriors will meet reigning state finalist Calhoun next week in a location determined by a coin flip today.
“We have no quit, absolutely no quit,” Arnold said. “No laying down, no quit. They just wanted it.”
Jefferson County (12-0) created four turnovers on defense, then saved its best performance for overtime. Against an offense that had burned it for 14 second-half points, mostly on runs between the tackles, the Warriors gave up five yards on four plays. They stuffed Georgia Tech recruit Fred Holton, a wide receiver, for no gain on a misdirection play on fourth-and-5 on the possession following Bostic’s touchdown.
“The offense scoring (first) really put a charge in them,” Arnold said.
Bostic, also a Georgia Tech recruit, set up the tying field goal with a kickoff return to midfield and completions of 18, 3 and 17 yards down to the 13-yard line.
“They’re a spread team and did what they had to do to get down there,” Thomasville coach Richie Marsh said. “They made it happen, and we didn’t. I have to give them credit. ... They won in overtime, so they deserve credit.”
Thomasville (8-4), a five-time state champion most recently crowned in 1988, played without starting quarterback Charles Hayes (sprained ankle). Replacement Jeffery Dyson threw three first-half interceptions, one of which set up Jefferson County’s lone score before intermission. The Warriors missed two field goals (43, 27 yards) and had just 102 yards at halftime despite gaining 27 on the first play.
Bostic’s 28-yard scoring pass to Stan Smith with 9:09 left seemed like it would hold up when the Warriors forced a Thomasville punt. But Jefferson County punted the ball right back to Thomasville, setting up the drive that resulted in that final-minute touchdown.
Warriors players hollered at each other on the sideline after that score, refusing to believe the best season in school history was over. On the final play of regulation, Thomas Prichard, a sophomore wearing lime-green soccer shoes, booted an arching kick that split the uprights.
“Everyone was praying, holding hands, saying we loved each other no matter what happened,” Bostic said. “I knew he was going to redeem himself. I just knew it.”
Local Sports
THS' season ends in overtime defeat
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