In 2012, Locust Grove overcame a 31-0 second-quarter deficit to beat Dutchtown 41-37. At the time, Locust Grove coach Clint Satterfield called that game the greatest comeback in school history.
That was before last week’s comeback against Mount Zion.
"I don't know now," Satterfield said.
The Wildcats trailed Mount Zion by 18 points with 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. They rallied back, behind a key special teams play and a big turnover, to force overtime and won in the third OT.
But that’s only part of the story.
Satterfield was notified around 2 p.m., Friday, just hours before the game, that his starting quarterback, promising junior Cameron Maddox, would miss the Mount Zion game with an illness. The Wildcats’ offense is built around Maddox and sophomore receiver Champ Leddon.
“We’re a throwing football team,” Satterfield said.
That changed against Mount Zion. Satterfield moved Leddon from receiver to quarterback, simplified the playbook down to four plays and a few formations. The Wildcats ran the ball 62 times for more than 300 yards and six touchdowns. They didn’t complete a pass and attempted only two.
The game began with Locust Grove snapping the ball over the punter’s head for Mount Zion safety. It snowballed to a 31-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Locust Grove cut into the deficit in the second and third quarters, but sill found itself down 18 with 10 minutes to go, after a Mount Zion touchdown.
“I remember looking up at the clock, being down 18, with 9:58 to go,” Satterfield said. “At that point, you’re kind of like … well, you know. It was doomsday. I told them to remember Dutchtown. Everyone in Locust Grove knows that game.”
The rally began with a big kickoff return by up-back Cole Powell, setting up a Leddon touchdown run that capped a 10-second drive for the Wildcats.
On Mount Zion’s ensuing possession, linebacker Hunter Fleming forced a fumble that the Wildcats turn into a Demonta Smith touchdown run. Suddenly, the Mount Zion lead was down to three, but there was plenty left.
Locust Grove pooch kicked on the ensuing kickoff and recovered on the Mount Zion 15-yard line. The Wildcats have to settle for a field goal, tying the score at 32-32 with four minutes to play.
“A lot more happened,” Satterfield said with a chuckle during a Tuesday night phone interview.
On Mount Zion’s next drive, Fleming forces his second turnover of the fourth quarter, intercepting a pass that leads to a Locust Grove go-ahead touchdown with three minutes left.
Leading 39-32 in the final minutes, Locust Grove’s defense holds Mount Zion on four downs. The Wildcats’ offense simply needs to run of the final minute and 15 seconds. But they fumbled on a basic dive play at the Mount Zion 20-yard line.
Mount Zion drove 80 yards in the final minute for a tying touchdown to send the game into overtime.
Overtime was equally as wild. The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the first overtime. Locust Grove missed a long field goal on the opening possession of the second overtime. Mount Zion ran one play and reached the Locust Grove 2-yard line, but fumbled on the next play, 2nd-and-goal, needing only a field goal. Finally, Locust Grove prevailed in the third overtime, with Caleb Huntley scoring the winning touchdown.
“We’re just fortunate,” Satterfield said. “In school history, we’re 6-0 in overtime. Two years ago, we’re playing Eagles Landing. They’re taking a knee on the 1-yard line. They fumble and we recover in the end zone. I mean, this place has some mystique.”
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