With the seconds ticking down and the first quarter drawing to a close, the coveted playoff spot seemed out of reach for Titan football. The Heritage Pride was leading the Titans 14-0, and the frustration was heard through the desperate cheers of the parents and seen on the player’s shaken faces.

Senior quarterback Scotty Forbes knew the team had to pull it together quickly if the Titans wanted a chance to make the playoffs. “It put us in a desperation mode which is when players play at their best. We didn’t have a choice but to step up or else our season would have been over.”

With just four minutes left in the half, the Titans stepped up and closed the gap to 14-12. With a touchdown, a fumble by both teams, a safety and a field goal, the last minutes of the half were a rollercoaster for both teams. As the Titans went into the locker room at halftime, the once rowdy Heritage student section was silent over the hopeful cheers of the several dozen faithful students of D-Block, trying to make up for the noticeable absence of the Titan cheerleaders competing at the Regional competition.

Their momentum carried into the second half when Forbes immediately connected with sophomore George Richardson on a 54 yard touchdown.  Junior Vashon McCants lead the running game for the Titans. With a key TD run followed by a two point conversion to make the score 27-21, there was just nine minutes left for a Heritage comeback.

Their efforts were thwarted by the Titan defense led by seniors Tim Duke, Tucker Strycharz, and Jordan Hinson. With several questionable penalties against the Titans, the Pride was able to get in prime scoring position with just two minutes left in the game. But with the clock ticking at 1:27, junior Jayson Robinson undoubtedly made the play of his high school career with his game winning interception.

“I was just so excited I didn’t know what to think besides that we had won the game and our playoff hopes were still alive,” Robinson said.

With this big win Friday night, the Titan’s playoff dreams are still possible.  As a four year varsity player, this win meant a lot to senior Luke Thompson. “I’ve been through the highs and the lows with this team and it’s great that I get to leave a mark with my class. For the program, it put us right back where we need to be, so we’re just looking forward to some November football.

Head coach Karl Buckwalter was proud of the team’s win on Friday night. “It was a huge win for us in the face of adversity, it kept us in the playoff push,” Buckwalter said. The Titans will be playing for their playoff lives this Friday night at 7PM, their senior night, at home against the Patriots of Park View.