Blanchard gets TD pass on final play to stun rival Tuttle, 30-28
By Tim Willert
Photo of Blanchard's Jaxon Laminack
TUTTLE - Blanchard's defense needed a stop in the worst way.
The Lions were leading Tuttle, 24-21, with about two minutes left in Friday's matchup of Class 4A-2 leaders.
The Tigers were moving the ball and had reached their opponent's 29-yard line. On fourth-and-1, quarterback Mason Dennis kept the ball and appeared to be stopped for no gain, but twisted out of a tackle to get the first down.
Four plays later, Dennis found tight end Jake Tucker for a 9-yard touchdown to put the Tigers back on top, 28-24, with 1:02 remaining in the game.
Now, it was up to Blanchard quarterback Carson Cooksey to lead his offense on an 85-yard drive to win the game. Cooksey, a junior who struggled to find his rhythm for much of the game, was up to the challenge.
On third-and-10 from his own 27-yard line, he found Jaxon Laminack for 20 yards with 36 seconds left. Cooksey then completed two more passes to position the Lions on the Blanchard 15-yard line with 5.1 seconds remaining.
He threw a pass over the middle that missed its mark, but Tucker was called for pass interference, giving the Lions a first down on the Tuttle 8 with less than one second showing on the clock.
With time for one last play, Cooksey dropped back and lofted the ball toward Laminack in the corner of the north end zone. The 5-foot-11 senior high-pointed the ball, made the catch and got leveled by Tuttle's Major Sharp.
But Laminack maintained possession and an official ruled he made the catch with one foot in bounds.
Final score: 30-28, Blanchard.
Blanchard receiver Jaxon Laminack goes up to make the game-winning catch in the Lions' 30-28 win at Tuttle on Oct. 7, 2022. Photo courtesy of Rachelle Rogers/RSP Photography
"God, was that crazy or what?" Blanchard coach Jeff Craig asked afterwards. "Our kids were resilient, they never quit. One play. That was the difference in the game, which it always has been.
"It's typical Tuttle-Blanchard. Just two teams battle until the very end. Every game we've played with them has come down to the last play. We fumbled on the 1 last year with a chance to go ahead, they make a play. To actually pull this one off was amazing."
With the win, the Lions (4-2, 3-0) gained the upper hand in the race to become district champions. A battle with Bethany awaits in Week 9.
Tuttle (4-2, 2-1) plays at Bridge Creek on Thursday. Coach Brad Ballard said the quick turnaround will help his players focus on what's ahead, not what's behind them.
"I told them I was proud of their fight," Ballard said. "We made some tough mistakes at critical times. I'm proud of their effort and we're getting closer. It's so tough. I thought they laid their guts out there.
"I thought our last touchdown was a heck of a drive. I thought we scratched and clawed for every inch. And so did they. They made one more play than we did."
Blanchard couldn't move the ball on Tuttle in the first half of Friday night's district showdown at Bill Hinkle Field. The Lions started two drives inside their 10-yard-line, managed just 33 yards of total offense and was held without a first down.
Fortunately for Blanchard, Laminack was in the right place at the right time, and picked off a Dennis pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown to give the Lions a 7-0 lead. Tuttle would answer on their next possession, a 13-play drive that covered 63 yards and culminated with a 1-yard touchdown run by Dennis to tie the score.
Both teams heated up offensively after halftime.
Blanchard regained the lead on a 28-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Alex Price with 7:14 left in the third quarter to make it 10-7. But back came the Tigers on their next possession, which they began at midfield following a 35-yard kickoff return by Tyler Woodson.
Dennis completed three passes for 30 yards and running back Luke Fallwell carried twice for 20 yards on the drive. Woodson scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with about four minutes left in the third quarter to give Tuttle a 14-10 lead.
The Tigers' lead was short-lived. On fourth down, Cooksey faked a punt and ran 4 yards to give Blanchard a first down at midfield. On the next play, Cooksey found Laminack for 16 yards and then connected with receiver Brayson Carter for 33 yards, setting up first and goal on the 1.
Laminack would score two plays later to give the Lions a 17-14 lead late in the third quarter.
The teams continued to trade touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Tuttle gashed the Lions' defense - playing without two injured starters at linebacker - on its next possession. Woodson carried for gains of 14, 15, 2 and 12 yards, and Dennis ran for 13 yards and scored on a keeper from 4 yards away to put the Tigers back in front, 21-17.
Cooksey threw a 31-yard scoring pass to Reagan Palmer on Blanchard's next possession to give the visitors a 24-21 lead and setting the stage for the fireworks to follow in the game's final five minutes.
Blanchard receiver Jaxon Laminack keeps one foot in bounds as he comes down with the touchdown catch on the game's final play as the Lions won at Tuttle, 30-28, on Oct. 7, 2022. Photo courtesy of Rachelle Rogers/RSP Photography
