North Crowley storms back in the fourth quarter, wins first playoff game in 17 years
North Crowley struggled for three quarters as the Panthers produced only three points during its Class 6A Division 2 bi-district playoff game with Trophy Club Nelson on Friday night.
Then the Panthers got a jolt of lightning in the fourth quarter to make some history at Globe Life Park.
The Panthers scored 20 points in the final stanza and picked off three Byron Nelson passes to storm back and win their first playoff game in 17 years, 23-16. North Crowley won a state title in 2003.
It’s North Crowley’s first playoff trip since 2008. It was Byron’s first since 2017.
North Crowley (7-3) advances to face the winner of Saturday’s game between Abilene and El Paso Eastwood.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” NC coach Courtney Allen said. “I told them they were going to be the ones and I attribute it to them buying into the vision. As long as we keep our kids in the North Crowley community, the 76123, skies the limit for this program.”
Trailing 14-3 with under eight minutes left in the game, North Crowley turned an 11-point deficit into a 3-point lead in just 10 seconds. First, the Panthers scored on a 7-yard touchdown run by DeJuan Lacy to make it 14-10 with 7:58 to play.
Byron (5-5) fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and North Crowley took the lead on the next play when quarterback Chandler Pullam hit Quinton Jackson for a 39-yard TD.
The Bobcats would throw interceptions on three consecutive possessions, two to Coryon Francis and another to Joe Redick to help North Crowley hold onto the lead.
Following Francis’ first interception, the Panthers upped the lead to 23-14 on a Pullam 1-yard TD run. The kick was blocked by Byron and returned by Mike Jones to keep it to a one-score game.
“Great team win to help bring the community together,” said Pullam, who completed 9 of 12 passes for 126 yards and a TD.
But Redick and Francis got two more picks for the Panthers, who ran the clock out for the victory.
“After the first pick, we scored and I could see them put their heads down. We knew we had them beat,” said Francis, who’s committed to New Mexico.
“The momentum was going toward us and we were getting hype and live on the sideline. We just needed that spark to get rolling,” added Pullam. “Defense has been there all season for us. Once we saw those picks, we knew this was going to happen.”
The only points of the first half came when both teams scored on their opening possessions of the game.
North Crowley marched 63 yards on 12 plays before Sammy Rodriguez booted a 25-yard field goal with 6:27 left in the first quarter. Gavin McCurley took the ensuing kickoff 64 yards to put Byron at the NC 30.
QB Jake Wilson hit a wide open Landon Ransom-Goelz for 24 yards to the 8 and three plays later, Wilson hit McCurley for a 2-yard TD with 3:52 on the clock.
The Bobcats had a chance to extend the lead to 10-3, but a 23-yard FG was missed midway through the second quarter.
North Crowley got to midfield on the ensuing drive, but Nick Kellogg intercepted a pass attempt for Byron. However, no damage was done as the Panthers forced a punt following a sack from Tristan Archie.
The Panthers stalled to close out the half, even after getting the ball to the Byron 33.
“I told them to be resilient at halftime. Be great and legendary. It’s the will to win,” Allen said. “They played through the walls. We knew Byron was going to make plays. We just had to withstand them.”
North Crowley out-gained Byron 328-204 in total yards.
Lacy rushed 28 times for 118 yards with one score and Jackson accounted for five catches for 83 yards and 54 yards rushing.
Wilson led the Bobcats with 165 yards passing. McCurley and Ransom-Goelz combined for seven grabs and 105 yards.
“This is from years of hard work and giving everything we’ve got,” said Francis. “This gives us a major confidence boost. It feels like we can go all the way. Just have to go back to square one, this game is over, and onto next week.”
This story was originally published December 11, 2020 at 10:02 PM.
