Hillcrest High's 25-Yard Hook-and-Ladder Stunner Lifts Tuscaloosa Past Saraland 24-21 into Class 5A Quarterfinals
On the evening of Nov. 13 local time, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, staged the most dramatic scene of this season's high school football playoffs. The Hillcrest–Tuscaloosa High School Patriots defeated Saraland High School 24-21 in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs to advance to the quarterfinals, keeping their record at 11-0. With five seconds remaining, Hillcrest trailed 17-21 when quarterback Jordan Chambliss threw to Brendon Williams, who immediately lateraled backward to teammate Jacoby Harris, who ran into the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown. The play, a hook-and-ladder called "Mustang," is practiced by the team every Thursday but had never before been used in an official game.
Harris rushed 15 times for 109 yards in the game, but earlier he had celebrated prematurely after a 58-yard run, fumbling the ball out of the end zone for a touchback. With 1 minute 46 seconds left in the game, a Chambliss pass had also been returned 70 yards for a touchdown by Saraland linebacker Ricky Strong. Saraland had reached the state final in four consecutive seasons, winning the title in 2022, and entered the game at 10-1. Hillcrest will next play on the road against Benjamin Russell High School on Nov. 20.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：阿拉巴马大学位于塔斯卡卢萨市的布莱恩特—丹尼体育场（资料图），本场高中季后赛在塔斯卡卢萨市举行。来源：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0。 / Photo: Bryant-Denny Stadium at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa (file photo); the high school playoff game was played in Tuscaloosa. Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
