Reno High quarterback Braylon Wilson manages to get off a throw at the last moment as he’s hit by Douglas’ Dustin Danen (6). Wilson ran for four touchdowns for Reno in the win and threw for another in the Husky win.
Photo by Ron Harpin.
What will likely go down as one of the most entertaining football games recent memory in Northern Nevada did not go Douglas’ way Friday night as Reno defeated the Tigers, 42-41, in the opening round of the Class 5A North Div. II regional playoffs.
The instant classic of a postseason contest came down to the final play.
With 19 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Douglas led 41-35 with Reno threatening inside the 10.
Husky quarterback Braylon Wilson faked a pitched and called his own number on his way to his fourth rushing touchdown of the evening, punching in a six-yard score to tie the game at 41-all with the point after try pending.
Reno connected on the PAT, going in front 42-41 with 19.7 ticks left on the clock.
Douglas’ offense was able to get the ball into Husky territory and line up a 54-yard field goal with two seconds left on the scoreboard.
The long field goal try fell short of the uprights as the Husky sideline began its celebration.
Douglas head coach Kyle Mays said postgame that the Tigers felt their best effort for a game-winning score was with a field goal kick as opposed to a pass to the end zone from the Reno 37-yard line.
“We thought field goal. Throwing it into the wind from the 50-yard line is pretty much the same as our kicker. We just decided to go with the field goal,” said Mays.
The loss ends Douglas’ first season in Class 5A North Div. II with a 6-5 overall record, falling in the season’s final three contests after a 6-2 start.
TALE OF THE TAPE
In the two sides first meeting during the regular season, the Huskies threw the ball 28 times in a 20-13 Tiger win.
Friday night, Reno did its damage on the ground only tossing the pigskin through the air nine times in total.
It was Reno’s junior quarterback Braylon Wilson who continued to find ways to make plays in the postseason opener.
By the final whistle Wilson had rush for four scores and thrown for another.
“They were committed to running the football,” said Mays. “They went with the run and stuck with it.”
Douglas trailed 21-19 at the half and turned the ball over on the second offensive play of the third quarter with a fumble.
Defensively, the Tigers were able to get a crucial stop on fourth down inside their own 10 to force a turnover on downs.
With the ball back in their hands, Douglas’ offense found its stride and Zack Jackson got loose for a 40-yard touchdown run, marking his second of the contest.
The 26-21 Douglas lead didn’t extend through Reno’s next drive as the Huskies went 80 yards on 15 plays, converting a pair of fourth downs on their way to the end zone.
Wilson made it 29-26 Reno with a two-yard rushing carry.
After a Tiger turnover on downs, Reno went right back into the end zone to take a 35-26 lead on the back of Wilson’s third rushing touchdown of the contest.
The two-score edge was only momentary as the Tigers’ punched back with a 14-yard screen pass from Jackson Ovard to Zack Jackson for a 14-yard touchdown.
The score brought Douglas within two, 35-33, with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter.
Douglas didn’t bother giving Reno the ball back as Brenton Weston poked an onside kick to himself, quickly giving the Tigers possession once again.
The orange and black needed two plays to take the lead as Jackson bolted his way for a 41-yard rushing score.
Douglas moved in front 41-35, but Reno ultimately had the final say, going 60 yards in 3:12, taking a 42-41 lead in the game’s final seconds.
“We put obstacles in our way ourselves and we had obstacles put in our way at times,” said Mays. “Quite honestly, the officiating tonight was pretty poor by one specific individual. I feel like that made a massive difference in the game. We shot ourselves in the foot at times. Our kids played hard, they battled. It’s unfortunate that things don’t always get leveled out at times.”
Douglas will graduate nine seniors from this year’s squad and Mays knows the season will be one they’ll all remember vividly after the emotions wear off.
“I’m proud of my kids and the senior class, especially. Being a small group, but priding themselves on competing and getting better every single day,” said Mays. “Once the sting of the loss wears off we will look back on the season with a lot of fondness and some pretty good memories because I am really proud of them.”