In a game filled with big plays, Archer came up with the last one and it determined the outcome.
The Tigers scored the last touchdown in the back-and-forth game to defeat Parkview 36-29 in the second round of the Class AAAAAAA playoffs.
The winning points came when Carter Peevy connected with Braylen Weems for an over-the-shoulder 36-yard completion. That set up a 5-yard scoring run by Semaje Banks on the next play with 1:25 remaining to give Archer the lead.
“Braylen has done that all year long,” Archer coach Andy Dyer said. “He's one of the best receivers I've coached in 22 years. He's got great concentration on the ball and he makes plays. He made a big one right there at the end of the ball game.”
Parkview coach Eric Godfree said, “You can't make a better throw and catch. You put it right where it's got to be and the receiver made a great catch. Credit to Archer for taking a chance and making a great play.”
Parkview had one last chance. After making one first down, the Panthers completed a pass on fourth down that was marked short of the first down.
“All year been in adverse situation against some good teams and found a way to come through. We were fully confident going right there,” Godfree said.
Parkview had scored twice in the fourth quarter to overcome a 28-17 deficit. An 11-play drive was capped by Cody Brown’s 1-yard run, which cut the lead to 28-23. After forcing an Archer punt, Parkview stunned the Tigers when Brown broke through the right side of the line and scored on an 86-yard run, giving the Panthers a 29-28 lead with 2:37 left.
“The whole game turned into a game of momentum in the second half,” Dyer said. “We had and they got it. They had and we got it. Tribute to our kids. Every time that happens your kids have an opportunity to lay down and our kids just stepped right back up.”
Brown, a sophomore, rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns. It was his third straight 200-yard rushing game.
Parkview’s Banks carried 30 times for 95 tough yards and two touchdowns.
“We weren't able to do some things early in passing game that we thought we'd be able to do,” Dyer said. “So we had to switch gears and turn that thing sideways and run right at them and it worked out for us.”
Archer (10-2) advances and will host Tift County in the quarterfinals. Parkview ends the season at 11-1.
Archer fumbled on the second play of the game. Banks was stripped and Parkview’s Bryce Wilson recovered at the 14. But the Tigers got tough on defense and forced the Panthers to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Nolan McCord.
Archer got on the board late in the first period thanks to its defense. Parkview quarterback Jordan Williams lost the exchange and Archer’s Emmanuel Michel recovered for a 4-yard scoop-and-score, giving the Tigers a 7-3 lead with 3:08 left.
Parkview answered by driving 70 yards for a score, the key play being a 39-yard run from Brown. Washington scored on a 1-yard dive with 11:36 in the second period to give the Panthers a 10-7 lead.
Archer’s Braylen Weems returned the kickoff to the Parkview 46 and the Panthers punched it in four plays later. Banks scored on a 4-yard run with 9:46 left to give the Tigers a 14-10 lead.
Parkview scored on an 8-yard run by Brown to go ahead 17-14, a score that stayed until halftime.
Archer took the lead in the third quarter on a 15-play drive, with Banks scoring from the 1. The Tigers went ahead 28-17 when Peevy found Trey Messer for a 49-yard touchdown pass with 10:36 remaining.
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