Texas High School Football Playoffs: Johnson's remarkable 4th-quarter comeback stuns Steele

With less than eight minutes to play in its third-round matchup against Steele in the UIL 6A Division I playoffs, Johnson was down 28-10 and on the brink of defeat.

Insanity ensued, as the Jaguars managed to erase the 18-point deficit and eventually win 29-28. Junior quarterback Elvis Estrada threw three touchdowns in the final period, two of which went to star junior Bryson Thompson, who made multiple big catches on Friday night.

Johnson had the first score of the evening as Estrada dished a pass out to freshman Braelyn Allen, who scooted nearly 60 yards to the house. The Jags QB finished with four passing touchdowns in the win.

Steele answered with a pair of rushing scores to take a 14-7 lead into half time. Johnson tacked on a field goal early in the third, but another short rushing score from star Knights senior running back and Oklahoma commit Jonathan Hatton Jr. made it 21-10.

Steele continued to look the part on defense, then junior RB Marshall Kenner broke off a long TD run to put the Knights up by 18. Estrada and the Johnson offense finally stepped up with their backs firmly against the wall.

The first of the three late scores went to Aaron Webb-Crawford. The quick 25-yard touchdown made it an 11-point game with just under seven minutes to play. The Jaguars defense then did its part, and a monumental fourth-down catch by Thompson on the ensuing drive then led to his first TD grab of the night.

Johnson failed the 2-point conversion, but somehow converted an onside kick to get the ball back with less than three to play. They got back into the Steele red zone, and the Estrada-Thompson connection worked once more to somehow give the Jags the 29-28 lead. Steele did block the extra-point attempt and nearly ran it back, but the Jags’ Rayshawn Hunt completed the crucial chase-down and stopped the conversion.

Steele got the ball past midfield on the final possession, but a 50-plus-yard field goal attempt at the end was blocked, completing a remarkable comeback victory for Johnson, sending it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

The Jaguars will now face the winner of Lake Travis and United next week. Johnson remains undefeated at 13-0 on the year and entered the week as the No. 67 team in Texas, per the Massey Ratings. Steele’s season comes to an end at 11-2 overall. The Knights were the No. 48 team in the state ahead of Friday night’s game.

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