HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Lincoln Comes From Behind to Beat Morse on Game’s Last Play

Lincoln and Morse have had a few wars, but none of them will be as memorable as underdog Lincoln’s 34-28 come-from-behind victory in front of nearly 5,000 at Mesa College Saturday.

Eight seconds remained when Lincoln (2-2), with no timeouts, stopped No. 3-Morse (3-2) on four downs with the score tied, 28-28, and the ball on the Morse 45.

Junior quarterback Akili Smith, with time for one play, rolled right and fired a wobbly spiral to Shaun Greene for a touchdown. Morse safety Archie Amerson, caught in single coverage, swiped to bat the ball away but missed while Greene caught the 45-yard pass and fell into the end zone.

Lincoln’s team and many of its fans rushed onto the field and mobbed Greene, a 6-foot senior who started a 20-point second-half comeback with a 23-yard scoring reception in the third quarter.

“I was surprised (Amerson) let me get by him,” Greene said, “then I said ‘Lord, please let me catch the ball.’ ”

Greene’s heroics spoiled a 20-carry, 256-yard rushing performance by Morse’s Gary Taylor, who scored on 80- and 63-yard runs. But in a game filled with big plays, the fourth quarter belonged to Lincoln. Morse broke a 14-14 halftime tie with Taylor’s 63-yard run and a 28-yard scoring pass from Ray Barnes to Dwain Bostic to make it 28-14 with 6:20 left in the third period.

But the Tigers were not heard from again, as the Lincoln defense--led by linebackers Kevin Mitchell (6-2, 204) and Alex Davis (6-3, 230)--held Taylor to 22 yards on seven carries from that point. And after Amerson was flagged for roughing punter Davis less than two minutes later, Lincoln’s offense found new life.

Smith hooked up with Greene to make it 28-22, then running back Marlon Scott (24-156 rushing), who had scored on a 35-yard run in the second quarter, got loose on a 63-yarder to tie the game with 9:43 left. With 37 seconds left, Lincoln had fourth down at the Morse 13-yard line. But with no field goal kicker, the Hornets ran a double reverse that was fumbled for a 22-yard loss to the 40.

Morse ran three pass plays and a running play that netted four yards, giving the ball back to Lincoln with eight seconds left. Afterward, Morse Coach John Shacklett second-guessed himself for going for the win.

“Ah, shoot,” Shacklett said. “I hate lose to Lincoln. We should have ran out the clock.”