Pioneers stun TN High on Ibarra-Flores' field goal

JONESBOROUGH — David Crockett kicker Ruben Ibarra-Flores got a mulligan – and he teed off on a game-winning field goal. After missing a go-ahead 45-yard field goal attempt with 1:12 remaining, Ibarra-Flores got a chance at 28-yarder on the game's final play. And he split the uprights, lifting the host Pioneers to a 31-28 defeat of Tennessee High in a Region 1-5A clash on Friday night. Crockett, which overcame three 14-point deficits, improved to 1-2 in the region and 4-3 overall. Tennessee High fell to 1-1 and 5-2. Ibarra-Flores, a senior, said he thought the 45-yarder was good when the ball left his foot. "Absolutely, with all my heart," he said. "As soon I saw it missed I just thought, 'I've gotta get the next one.'" The next one would've presumably been in overtime. But Tennessee High came up a yard short on a fourth-and-three in the closing seconds, and an unsportsmanlike penalty after the Vikings' futile fourth-down play gave the Pioneers possession at the Tennessee High 41 with 26.7 seconds remaining. Crockett quarterback A.J. Wynn then threw a 33-yard pass to Jasiyah Antone to help set up Ibarra-Flores' shot at redemption. Following the pass to Antone, Wynn took a 3-yard loss while running to his left to center the kick for Ibarra-Flores. "Every time Tennessee High went up two scores, our kids answered the bell," Crockett coach Hayden Chandley said. "That's a very good 5-1 football team. I'm proud of our kids." Tennessee High got yet another stellar performance from senior running back Elijah Plumbar, who piled up 282 yards, including a 73-yard TD, on 27 carries. "I told the Plumbar kid after the game," Chandley said, "I said, 'Pound for pound, you're the best player we've played all year.'" Vikings junior quarterback Knox Keesee's touchdown runs of four and 10 yards and the ensuing PAT kicks from Joseph Ferrell gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead with 3:49 left in the first half. Crockett offensive coordinator Ryan Burger drew up some razzle-dazzle to get the Pioneers on the board before halftime. Wynn handed off to Antone, who then threw a jump pass to big Colton Mullis to help get Crockett within 14-7 with 28 seconds left in the first half. The drive included a 17-yard catch by Mullis for a first down at the Tennessee High 36 and a 12-yard reception from Antone that gave the Pioneers first and goal at the 5. Burger's bag of tricks included a reverse flea-flicker that was good for a 38-yard completion to Chance Taylor on the Pioneers opening drive of the second half. That led to a 19-yard TD run by Wynn. "Ryan Burger called the game of his life tonight," Chandley said. Wynn finished with 20 carries for 78 yards and two TDs. Wynn was also 6 of 11 passing for 174 yards."Four (Wynn) is a warrior," Tennessee High coach Josh Holt said. Bo Utsman's 15-yard TD run on a fourth-and-five pushed the Vikings' lead back to 21-7 with 8:45 left in the third quarter. Wynn answered with the 19-yard run to get Crockett within a touchdown with 5:37 left in the period. But 48 seconds later, Plumbar scored on the 73-yard TD run to help push the Vikings' advantage back to 14 points. Crockett responded, however. Mullis caught an 8-yard TD pass from Hunter Belcher on fourth down with 11:50 left in the game, getting Crockett within a touchdown. The Pioneers then caught the Vikings by surprise with Ibarra-Flores' onside kick, and Marckis Carrier recovered it for Crockett near midfield with 11:49 remaining. Wynn connected with Chase Taylor on a 37-yard pass to the Tennessee High 4 with 10:50 remaining, setting up Wynn's 1-yard TD with 9:46 left. Ibarra-Flores' PAT tied the score, 28-28. Along with the TD pass, Antone had seven carries for 24 yards and three receptions for 65 yards. Mullis had four catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor had two catches for 75 yards. "We dressed 41 kids, but our kids never quit," Chandley said. "They refused to give up. I can't say enough good things about 'em. I'm really blessed to be their coach." Tennessee High will play Morristown West on Friday. Crockett is off next week and will take on Cherokee in two weeks. --- David Crockett 31, Tennessee High 28 TH 7 7 14 0 — 28 DC 0 7 7 17 — 31 First quarter TH—Knox Keesee 4 run (Joseph Ferrell kick), 7-0, 4:20 Second quarter TH—Keesee 10 run (Ferrell kick), 14-0, 3:49 DC—Colton Mullis 5 pass from Camerone Antone (Ruben Ibarra-Flores kick), 7-14, ;28.8 Third quarter TH—Bo Utsman 15 run (Ferrell kick), 21-7, 8:45 DC—AJ Wynn 19 run (Ibarra-Flores kick), 14-21, 5:37 TH—Elijah Plumbar 73 run (Ferrell kick), 28-14, 4:49 Fourth quarter DC—Mullis 8 pass from Hunter Belcher (Ibarra-Flores kick), 21-28, 11:50 DC—Wynn 1 run (Ibarra-Flores kick), 28-28, 9:46 DC—Ibarra-Flores 28 FG, 31-28, :00