LIVE 5A Championship Blog - Highland Springs (13-1) vs. Stone Bridge (12-2)

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Such outstanding execution by Mickey Thompson and his Bulldogs, getting the defense to flow one way and then Girdy going the other way.

Highland Springs still has time to try and get in position for a game-winning field goal or score a touchdown. Do the defending Champs have some magic left in them?

 

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Delay / clock management issue here at Hampton University with just under 1:15 to play... Stone Bridge up 29-28 on Highland Springs.

 

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Juwan Carter with a run and then he hits his target Chris Thaxton over the middle to the Stone Bridge 21-yard line. Clock stops with 44.7 seconds to play.

This is a chance for Carter to be the hero and go down as a Highland Springs legend by winning a second consecutive state title, rallying his team down the field for the win.

Or will the Stone Bridge defense do what happened to them in their loss to Lake Taylor in 2012 and get the key stop / takeaway with the opponent driving to try to win?

 

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A great catch by Isiaiah Winstead inside the 5-yard line for Highland Springs with 30.5 seconds to play. It'll be marked at the 3.

 

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26.6 seconds to play - Highland Springs 35, Stone Bridge 29.

 

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Chris Thaxton has been the unsung hero for Highland Springs, hauling in the go-ahead touchdown from QB Juwan Carter from 3 yards out.

Stone Bridge still has one last chance - at their own 40-yard line with 21.1 seconds to play and trailing 35-29.

 

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FINAL in the 5A State Championship - Highland Springs 35, Stone Bridge 29

Springers win back-to-back state titles.

More to come!

 

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The Highland Springs Springers have repeated as State Champions in Group 5A, rallying in the final minute to take the lead and defeat the Stone Bridge Bulldogs 35-29 in a re-match for the title at Hampton University.

Here are the numbers...

Final Stats:

Highland Springs 35: (14-1 Overall)
Juwan Carter - 14-25 for 196Yds. 3-0TD/Int. ratio; 13Car. 84Yds. TD
Willie Harkless - 3Car. 71Yds. TD
Chris Thaxton - 5Rec. 42Yds. TD
James Jackson - 4Rec. 83Yds. TD
Isaiah Winstead - 3Rec. 39Yds. TD
Rell Coley - 12 Tackles (6 Solo)
Justin Hopkins - 11 Tackles (8 Solo)
De'Andre Henderson - 10 Tackles (6 Solo)
Jordan Wall - 10 Tackles (6 Solo)

Springers - 47 plays/377 yards (22 rushes, 181 yards)
3-8 on 3rd down, 1-4 on 4th down, 3-5 in the red zone
12 penalties for 86 yards, 0 punts


Stone Bridge Bulldogs 29: (12-3 Overall)
Joshua Breece - 27Car. 213Yds. TD
Bradley Block - 22Car. 96Yds. 3TD's
Leland Girdy - 12Car. 78Yds; 1Rec. 2Yds.
Easton Turner - 1-8 for 2Yds. 0-2TD/Int. ratio
Paul Moore - 4 Tackles (3 Solo)
Josh Lawyer - 4 Tackles

Bulldogs - 79 plays/403 yards (70 rushes, 401 yards)
412 on 3rd down, 3-6 on 4th down, 3-5 in the red zone
6 penalties for 60 yards, 1 punt for 41 yards
32:42 to 15:18 Time of Possession advantage