Hays scores with 16 seconds left in regulation, then pulls it out in triple overtime
By Jason Gordon
As long as Hays has Clayton Rogers in the huddle, it wouldn’t be wise to ever leave another Rebels’ game early.
Rogers proved to be Mr. Clutch for a second consecutive week, in what has certainly become his career trademark.
Rogers threw a touchdown late in regulation to tie the score Friday night at District 26-4A rival Clemens, and then took it into the end zone himself in triple overtime, to give the Rebels an extraordinary 34-28 victory over a stunned Buffaloes team, crowd and coaching staff.
“;The things Clayton Rogers does are amazing sometimes,” Hays receiver Brandon Lawrence said. “;I don’t know what it is, but he’s got something special.”
A week ago against Del Valle, Rogers completed a touchdown and two-point conversion pass with just over a minute left in regulation in Hays’ eventual double-overtime win against Del Valle.
Against Clemens, he made things even more dramatic.
Rogers’ fumble with five minutes remaining in regulation in Hays territory allowed the Buffaloes to take a 14-7 lead after a Charles Ross 6-yard touchdown run. He atoned for his mistake in a big way, leading Hays (6-2, 4-1 26-4A) down the field.
On fourth-and-5, Rogers eluded a defender in the backfield and rolled right before throwing the ball all the way back across the field where a wide-open Brandon Lawrence was waiting in the end zone for the game-tying 14-yard touchdown catch with 16 seconds left.
“;There’s no doubt it, he just keeps making plays,” Hays head coach Bob Shelton said.
When asked if he can think of anyone he’d rather have in his backfield in clutch time than Rogers, who caught the game-winning pass with no time on the clock in a 21-20 regional-semifinal playoff win over Clemens last year, Shelton simply replied, “;No. No way.”
In the first overtime, Clemens took the early lead on a Charles Ross 12-yard touchdown run.
Hays, which was scoreless through three quarters against Clemens, started to get things going on offense.
After a successful quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches, Rogers rolled out to his right, where three of his best receivers were heading out on different pass patterns. But Rogers again did an about-face, this time throwing to the left side of the end zone to a wide-open Jon Gonzales to send the game to a second overtime.
There, Hays took the lead first after an 8-yard Rogers run led to a 2-yard Nick DeSantiago touchdown plunge, but Clemens came right back with another Ross TD scamper, this time from 6-yards out.
Hays came up with the big defensive stand it needed at the beginning of the third overtime, as quarterback sacks by Chris Lubbe and Jose Carrizales and a big tackle for loss by Blake Timmons, led to an eventual Michael Kauffmann interception.
Four plays later in Hays’ half of triple overtime, Rogers waltzed into the end zone with the ball raised high above his head.
Shelton also gave credit to his defense, which held Clemens (4-4, 1-4 26-4A) to only six points through three quarters of play, while the Rebel offense sputtered.
“;Our defense kept us in the game early,” Shelton said. “;I don’t think we would have had a chance to win it late if it wasn’t for the way they played.”
Rogers finished the game 11-of 17 passing for 159 yards passing and totaled 84 more yards on the ground.
Unlike when the Buffaloes beat Hays in the regional finals in the playoffs at the Alamodome last season, Clemens head coach Greg Ferrara didn’t have much to say after this game.
“;It was a great game between two great teams. That’s all I’ve got to say,” Ferrara said before walking away.
Hays is now in great shape in the playoff picture.
The Rebels (6-2, 4-1 26-4A) are tied with Steele, a former undefeated team which was blown out by New Braunfels High Friday night, for second place in the district standings.
A win next Friday night at Canyon or at home against Steele in the last regular-season game would almost assuredly clinch a postseason spot for the Rebels.
