For
the second year in a row, Patrick Henry and Deep Run needed extra time
to decide a champion, but this time, Deep Run (8-0) walked away with
the victory. On Deep Run�??s Senior Night, Wildcat upperclassmen Deck
McGuire, Matt Snyder, and Wes McDaniel carried an offense that had
three first half turnovers to a comeback victory, 21-20.

Patrick
Henry (7-1) had a chance to tie the game after scoring a touchdown on
its possession in the first overtime by kicking the extra point.
Instead, Coach Ray Long chose to go for the win, which failed when
senior tailback D. J. Thomas slipped trying to run in the two-point
conversion.

�??We had to go for two,�?� Long said. �??Their offense is too good not to. I would do it again if I had to.�?�

�??It
was the biggest emotional ride of my life,�?� Snyder, the Wildcat senior
wide receiver, said after the game, with sweat still dripping from his
nose. �??We just came out and played Deep Run football in the second
half.�?�

When
asked exactly what Deep Run football entailed, Snyder pointed to a
strong running game that helps create big passing opportunities. But he
also gave credit to the Wildcat defense, which had its hands full with
the explosive Thomas, who finished with 163 yards and two touchdowns.

�??We
knew D. J. was going to get his yards,�?� Deep Run coach Lenny Pritchard
said. �??He�??s a great running back. We had Snyder playing D. J. in
practice all week, so we hoped we were prepared for him. But he still
managed to get some big plays.�?�

Thomas
scored the first touchdown of the game, waiting patiently in the
backfield before bursting between the left guard and center for a
46-yard score in the first minute of the second quarter. Deep Run came
back with a four-minute drive that stalled because of two holding
penalties and one false start, forcing the Wildcats to punt.

Deep
Run threatened to score twice more in the second quarter, but McGuire
was intercepted by junior Robby Daniels, then backup quarterback Antone
Exum fumbled at the goal line after a 27-yard run, which gave the
Patriots a touchback. The teams went into halftime with the Patriots
leading, 7-0.

But
in the second half, Deep Run refused to squander its scoring
opportunities, converting two 4th down plays that both led to
touchdowns. Two minutes into the third quarter, McGuire tossed a
perfect lob over the middle of the field to junior tight end Brooks
Martin on 4th and 4. Three plays later McDaniel, a junior running back,
ran three yards for a touchdown that made the score 7-6, Patrick Henry.

After
recovering a fumble on a missed Patrick Henry handoff, Deep Run kept
its return drive going when Snyder caught a 13-yard pass on 4th and 11.
Snyder then finished the drive with a 17-yard touchdown reception on
another perfectly placed lob from McGuire. McDaniel ran in the
two-point conversion, giving Deep Run a 14-7 lead at the end of the
third quarter.

But
just as Patrick Henry looked deflated, Thomas took over again, this
time exploding for a 38-yard touchdown run, and flattening safety Danny
Dietz in the process. Once the score was tied, neither team was able to
get close enough for a chance at a game winning field goal.

Deep
Run ran three straight runs in its overtime possession, scoring on a
five-yard draw by McDaniel. The extra point proved to be all that the
Wildcats would need to hold on for the victory.