As he slowly walked toward his team, Seminole coach Karl Calhoun stopped occasionally to hug a player, celebrate with his staff and enjoy the moment after the Noles downed state ranked Monarch 30-26 on Sept. 13.
But that moment looked a little in doubt after Monarch scored with 45 seconds to go and a 26-20 lead following a Seminole fumble near midfield.
But junior quarterback Michael Clayton put the team on his back after Seminole got the ball back on its own 45 to start it late-game heroics.
A busted played left Clayton to scramble – an 11-yard run up the middle. He then found Xavier Tucker in the corner of the end zone where the receiver out jumped his coverage for the winning score.
“It was just a beautiful play, he went up contested over three players and made the catch, but that’s what big time players do – make big time plays,” coach Karl Calhoun said.
Liam Allen added the PAT for the final 30-26.
On the night, Clayton was 11 of 17 for 148 yards passing and two touchdowns.
Tucker had two catches for 40 yards, but it was the last 18 that mattered the most when it counted.
“When you want to play deep in the playoffs in November and December, those are the teams you have to beat,” Calhoun said. “The guys never quit and finished the way they should. I’m really proud of the boys tonight.”
Running backs Khamani Robinson and Rodney Grant III pounded the Monarch defense all night for 194 yards. Robinson led the way with 110 yards.
Grant started thing off for Seminole on a 19-yard touchdown run with 9 minutes left in the first quarter.
Monarch would score three minutes later and looked to take the lead on a 2-point PAT, but the Seminole defense came through with the stop.
The host Seminoles maintained their lead going up 20-16 at the half. Defense took over for both teams until Seminole added a touchdown with 3 minutes left in the game.
“All week we kept saying we need to finish games. We told our guys to always stay positive,” Calhoun said. “I’m really proud of the guys, we gave up that touchdown but the ever quit. They just kept playing and played great football.”
Seminole is at home again this week when the Noles host 4-0 Lake Wales. Game time is set for 7pm.
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