In a game with more ups and downs and breathtaking moments than a roller coaster ride, Bridgeland outlasted Dekaney through four overtimes for a 47-44 win in Thursday’s Class 6A Division II Region II area playoffs at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium.
Dylan Goffney’s 24-yard touchdown catch-and-run through defenders clinched the win, which sends Bridgeland (12-0) to the regional semifinals for the first time.
Momentum swings, big plays on offense, a season-saving goal line stand, clutch special team contributions, timely turnovers and game-changing penalties – Thursday’s game had all the ingredient for a playoff classic.
“I’ve been in shootouts, I’ve been in crazy things, but these kids they will never forget tonight – it’s a memory they will have forever,” said Bridgeland coach David Raffield.
Goffney, a Southern Methodist signee, posted with his best game of the year. Including his game-winner, Goffney caught 14 passes for 204 yards and three touchdowns.
“Oh boy did he rise up when it mattered,” Raffield said of Goffney. “Amazing effort.”
Bridgeland’s star junior quarterback Conner Weigman completed 27 of 44 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns with a 1-yard scoring run on the Bear’s first overtime possession.
Weigman was matched all evening by Dekaney quarterback Daelyn Williams. The senior connected on 26 of 43 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns and also had a scoring run in the first overtime.
The two offenses combined for 1,018 total yards. Yet the most important sequence of the game came from Bridgeland’s defense.
After Bridgeland took 41-38 lead in the third overtime off Ethan Hajdik’s 25-yard field goal, Williams drove Dekaney to a 1st-and-goal from the Bridgeland half-yard line. It’s when the Bears refused to quit, stuffing three consecutive running plays to force fourth down. Dekaney lined up to go for the win, but a delay of game penalty forced them to settle for Leo Pinedo’s 24-yard field and a fourth overtime.
“The defense really answered the call there,” Raffield said. “They struggled all night long, were inconsistent, and Dekaney made some great plays, Williams made some great plays, but our kids rose up when it mattered.”
Pinedo’s third field goal of the game, a 39-yarder, gave Dekaney a 44 – 41 lead before Goffney’s heroics ended the game.
Early on, there was no indication of how the night would turn out. Weigman and the Bears wasted little time getting on the board with Hunter Wallis’ tiptoe catch in the endzone for the 22-yard score.
Later in the quarter, Weigman found Goffney for their first scoring connection, a 6-yard touchdown. Weigman completed 9 of 10 passes for 122 yards in the first quarter and the Bears appeared to be cruising with a 14-0 lead.
However, Dekaney outscored Bridgeland 17-7 in the second quarter and trailed 21-17 at halftime. The big play for Dekaney in the second quarter came on a fourth down as time expired. Williams threw a perfect 43-yard pass to Jonah Wilson as time expired.
“I asked them at halftime - I told them they had 24 minutes to give me their best effort,” said Dekaney head coach Anthony Williams. “If you give me your best effort, whatever God has intended for us I am ok with it. They gave me their best effort and I am trusting God in this, that we are going to learn and come back better next year.”
Williams and Wilson connected again, this time on an 83-yard bomb, to give the Wildcats a 24-21 lead mid-third quarter - Dekaney’s first of the night.
The teams traded scores in the fourth quarter and were tied at 31 heading into the first overtime.
A remarkable effort falls short for Dekaney (6-4), but the Wildcats still earned their first playoff win since 2011 this season.
Bridgeland awaits the winner of the area round playoff game between Rockwall-Heath and Temple.
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December 19, 2020 at 12:23AM
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Bridgeland outlasts Dekaney in four-overtime playoff classic - Houston Chronicle
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