Landmark Christian quarterback Stockton McGuire scored with 36 seconds to play to preserve a 17-14 homecoming victory for the War Eagles over Pace Academy on Friday night.
McGuire plunged into the end zone behind center Michael Johnson to cap a nine-play drive after taking possession with 5:19 to play. An 18-yard run by fullback William Higbie set the War Eagles up for first-and-goal at the 7, and McGuire scored on third down.
Higbie sacked Pace Academy quarterback Kevin Johnson on the game’s final play to seal the win for the fourth-ranked War Eagles, who moved to 8-0 overall and remained atop Region 5-A with top-ranked Eagle’s Landing Christian.
“We felt like we just had to be physical with them and not hit the panic button,” Landmark Christian coach Wayne Brantley said. “We were fortunate that the drive took all the time off the clock.”
On the game’s opening drive, Landmark Christian moved inside the Pace Academy 10 before McGuire made a 21-yard field goal. The kick ended an 18-play War Eagles drive that spanned the game’s first nine minutes.
After Pace Academy running back Malik Staples lost a fumble at the 50 on the Knights’ first possession, the Knights’ defense forced a turnover on downs. Two plays after the turnover, Pace Academy junior quarterback Kevin Johnson found receiver Kameron Uter for an 81-yard touchdown pass to put the Knights up 7-3 early in the second quarter.
Uter, a 6-4, 200-pound senior, leaped over a defender at the 45 and scored down the left sideline.
With seconds to play before halftime, Johnson missed a bad snap on fourth-and goal at the Landmark Christian 1 and failed to recover the ball at the 30. Sophomore defensive back Joshua Cobb picked up the ball and scored untouched to put Landmark Christian ahead 10-7.
“We made two critical mistakes and they scored on them,” Pace Academy coach Chris Slade said. “That turned out to be the difference.”
Pace Academy (4-3 overall, 1-2 in Region 5-A) retook the lead early in the third quarter when Johnson hit Uter for his second touchdown pass from 5 yards away. Johnson finished 13-for-25 passing for 232 yards. Pace has lost three of four games after starting 3-0.
