Starr's Mill stuns Tucker in AAAA semifinals

Two big passes made the difference.

Starr’s Mill quarterback Adam Holley made two key throws to lead a quick 59-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes to give the Panthers a 20-19 win over Tucker in the Class AAAA semifinals.

It is the first trip to the state final in Starr’s Mill school history.

Tucker (13-1) had a chance to put the game away, getting the ball with 6:27 left and a five-point lead. As the clock ticked past 2:30, they had a first down on the Starr’s Mill 45-yard line.

On the first-down play, though, running back Bashr Coles fumbled, and it was recovered by the Panthers (14-0) at their own 41 with 2:12 left.

Starr’s Mill wasted no time taking it down the field for the go-ahead score.

Holley made a big throw just before taking a hard hit, deep to Jeffrey Greene, who ran to the Tucker 26-yard line.

Two plays later, Alex Riddle caught a perfect corner-route throw from Holley in the end zone to give the Panthers a one-point lead with 1:43 left.

That gave Tucker one more chance to push the ball down the field and set up for a potential game-winning field goal.

The Tigers started at their own 15, got one first down but couldn’t advance the ball past the 27. From there, a few penalties and a fumble on a sack stalled the Tucker drive before it ever built up any momentum.

It was a stunning finish for a team that hadn’t scored fewer than 27 points in any game this season, but Starr’s Mill was quick enough and took good angles on tackles to contain Tucker’s many offensive weapons.

Tucker’s 1,000-yard rushers Coles and N’Quan Maggett combined for just 86 yards on the ground, and neither had a rushing score. Maggett did score a 30-yard receiving touchdown