By Michael Kinney
MOORE -- When Southmoore was struggling through a 2-8 season last year, Kendal Thompson knew the SaberCats were ready to play in big games. The junior quarterback said they just had to go out and prove it to everyone else.
The fourth-ranked SaberCats had their chance Friday when they took on No. 6 Mustang for the District 6A-1 title. Both teams came into the contest red hot, confident and full of future Division I players.
But it was Southmoore that made the crucial plays to earn the 22-19 victory at Moore Stadium. It's the program's first title in only its second year of existence.
"This game was big," Southmoore's Julian Wilson said. "We came out here and are doing things that a second-year team shouldn't be doing. We came out and won a district championship. But the season is not over, we still have the playoffs."
Late into the fourth quarter, it looked like the championship would be going home with Mustang.
It wasn't until the Broncos (7-3, 5-2) were called for a personal foul after running into the punter that the 'Cats started to roll. Trailing 19-14, Oklahoma commits Thompson and Austin Haywood hooked up for a 53-yard scoring strike to put Southmoore up by one. Haywood converted the two-point conversion to give them a 22-19 lead with 5:35 left in the game.
Mustang's offense stalled and it was forced to go for it on fourth down. Wilson came up with the pass deflection as quarterback Jacinto Biorato tried to get the ball to Austin Ralls.
Southmoore (9-1, 6-1) attempted to run the clock out, but penalties hurt the drive. But on third-and-18 with 1:30 left in the game, instead of running the ball to run the clock down, Haywood lined up in the shotgun and threw a 31-yard completion to Thompson to seal the win.
"I had to fight for it all night," Thompson said. "I had been calling for the fade all night. The corner had his back to me. We happened to call it at the right time."
Thompson finished 8-for-15 for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Despite having the flu earlier in the week, Andrew Long carried the rock for 119 yards on 18 carries.
"We had a rough game, but good teams find a way to win," Thompson said.
On its second possession of the game, Mustang drove down the field behind their massive offensive line to the 1 yard line. Daniel Farrow finished the drive off with a plunge into the endzone.
After one quarter of play, the Broncos led 7-0.
However, the 'Cats struck back in a hurry. On a reverse wide receiver pass, Thompson, who had lined up at wideout, connected with a wide open Nyko Symonds for a 68-yard touchdown.
On Mustang's next possession, Biorato fumbled and Symonds recovered on the Broncos' 48-yard line. It led to a Haywood touchdown run. The 'Cats led 14-7 heading into the locker room.
Farrow scored twice after halftime. But both the extra point attempts failed and Mustang led 19-14.
Whether it was the high winds or the defensive coverage, Thompson was hesitant to take any shots down field. For much of the game he settled for short pass plays or was forced to hold on to the ball and was sacked. The offense that had been unstoppable all season, looked pedestrian.
It was the 'Cats' defense that stepped up and slowed down Mustangs' No. 1 ranked offense. Farrow had 167 yards on 34 carries to go along with his three scores. But Biorato threw for just 123 yards.
"Our defense stepped up and handled it like men," Wilson said. "We handled that situation like some grown men. I am glad we went out there and did it."
Southmoore will face Lawton Eisenhower next Friday in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. But the SaberCats will savor their district title for a night.
"It feels real good," Southmoore's LeBron Brown said. "I can't hold my emotions. I just want to cry every minute. This is my first championship of my whole entire life."
Michael Kinney 366-3537 mkinney@normantranscript.com
