DARLINGTON - So much for believing sophomores on varsity can't handle the pressure.
Redbirds quarterback Alex Erickson heaved a touchdown pass with no time on the clock Friday against visiting Southwestern and then ran in a two-point conversion to force overtime.
After the Wildcats scored but failed on the two-point conversion, Darlington needed a touchdown to tie and the extra point to win.
Who stepped up? No other than Erickson, who ran the ball in from four yards out to tie the game. Senior Jeff Reichling then kicked the extra point for the 29-28 Darlington win.
Neither team scored in the first quarter. Darlington got on the board first with 10:36 left in the second quarter when Carson Crist ran to paydirt from 3 yards out.
Southwestern grabbed an 8-6 lead about six minutes later in the second quarter.
Reichling got the lead back for the Redbirds on a 4-yard run with 4:23 left in the third quarter, but Southwestern responded just over two minutes later to tie the game at 14-14.
The Wildcats struck first in the fourth quarter with 9:26 left. The two-point conversion gave Southwestern a 22-14 lead.
Darlington failed to respond until time ran out in regulation. Erickson heaved a 15-yard pass to Crist and then ran the ball in to force the extra frame.
Southwestern had first possession and scored on a 6-yard run. The two-point conversion pass failed, leaving Darlington facing a 28-22 deficit. Erickson converted on a 4-yard run and Reichling's extra point gave the Redbirds the come-from-behind win.
Erickson finished with 100 yards rushing on 14 carries. He passed for 82 yards. Reichling ran the ball 25 times for 128 yards.
Darlington travels to Riverdale next Friday.
Redbirds quarterback Alex Erickson heaved a touchdown pass with no time on the clock Friday against visiting Southwestern and then ran in a two-point conversion to force overtime.
After the Wildcats scored but failed on the two-point conversion, Darlington needed a touchdown to tie and the extra point to win.
Who stepped up? No other than Erickson, who ran the ball in from four yards out to tie the game. Senior Jeff Reichling then kicked the extra point for the 29-28 Darlington win.
Neither team scored in the first quarter. Darlington got on the board first with 10:36 left in the second quarter when Carson Crist ran to paydirt from 3 yards out.
Southwestern grabbed an 8-6 lead about six minutes later in the second quarter.
Reichling got the lead back for the Redbirds on a 4-yard run with 4:23 left in the third quarter, but Southwestern responded just over two minutes later to tie the game at 14-14.
The Wildcats struck first in the fourth quarter with 9:26 left. The two-point conversion gave Southwestern a 22-14 lead.
Darlington failed to respond until time ran out in regulation. Erickson heaved a 15-yard pass to Crist and then ran the ball in to force the extra frame.
Southwestern had first possession and scored on a 6-yard run. The two-point conversion pass failed, leaving Darlington facing a 28-22 deficit. Erickson converted on a 4-yard run and Reichling's extra point gave the Redbirds the come-from-behind win.
Erickson finished with 100 yards rushing on 14 carries. He passed for 82 yards. Reichling ran the ball 25 times for 128 yards.
Darlington travels to Riverdale next Friday.
