Staff Report
In the world of the Texas high school football playoffs, jubilation can turn into devastation in a heartbeat. Just ask the Johnson Jaguars.
A lost fumble on the Jags’ first offensive play of double overtime sealed Johnson’s (9-2) fate and let the Cedar Park Timberwolves (6-5) escape, 42-36, in Friday’s bi-district playoff.
Johnson trailed 21-13 midway through the third quarter before a 16 point surge allowed the Jags to take a 29-21 lead late in the fourth. Touchdowns from wide receivers Rich Kelly and Aiden Rodriguez, along with a 47-yard field goal from kicker Patrick Hellen, helped Johnson overcome the deficit.
However, state power Cedar Park is, well, Cedar Park. The Timberwolves didn’t go quietly into the night and completed a near perfect two minute drill down the stretch. A touchdown pass from Cedar Park quarterback Josh Pell to wide receiver Cody Marshall, along with a successful two-point try, tied the game at 29-29 and sent the contest into an extra session.
Both teams matched touchdowns in the first overtime period, extending the playoff game into double overtime at 36-36. Cedar Park drew first blood in double overtime with a touchdown, but a missed two-point attempt kept the score at 42-36 and gave the Johnson offense a chance to potentially win.
But a miscue on the Jags first snap of double overtime ended Johnson’s historic season.
