Bixby rallies past Wolves into semis

From the Tulsa World

By DUANE DAPRON World Correspondent
Published: 11/21/2009

SHAWNEE — Bixby called on a seldom-used, but highly reliable play to produce big dividends in the clutch Friday night.

DeWitt Jennings III's 37-yard halfback option pass for a touchdown to Donovan Wilson with just under four minutes to play proved to be the game-winning points, and the Spartans held off a last-gasp Shawnee drive to stun the unbeaten Wolves 28-21 in a Class 5A playoff quarterfinal at Jim Thorpe Stadium.

With the win, the No. 8 Spartans (8-4) will advance to the semifinals for the second time in three years and meet No. 10 Guthrie (8-4) next week.

The winning touchdown capped a 98-yard drive and ended a 21-point blitz for Bixby, which rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit. Bixby held on with a goal-line stand at the 1-yard line in the final seconds.

On the winning score, Bixby faced a second-and-16 from the Shawnee 37. Jennings took a pitch from quarterback Kevin Lamb, rolled to his right and lofted a pass to Wilson, who outmuscled a Wolves defender for the decisive touchdown.

"We have used that play two times in the last three years, and we have scored both times with it," Bixby head coach Pat McGrew said. "It's been a big, big play for us."

In 2007, the Spartans called the same play (with Jennings hooking up with Tyler McGrew for the score) in the Spartans' home quarterfinal victory against Midwest City Carl Albert.

Besides tossing the clinching TD pass, Jennings ignited the winning drive with carries of 31 and 21 yards to move Bixby from its own 2-yard line to the Shawnee 46.

"DeWitt was unbelievable, but he was great because of the play of our offensive line," McGrew said.

Jennings rushed for a game-high 119 yards on 15 carries and had rushing TDs of 27 and 8 yards. After his two long runs started the TD drive, he caught a key 18-yard pass from Lamb on third-and-13 to move the ball to the Shawnee 31. Two plays later, Jennings hooked up with Wilson on the game-winner.

"I just went up to get the ball at its highest point, just like the coaches have told me to do," the junior wide receiver said.

Trailing 28-21, Shawnee (11-1) made one last drive in the final minutes. Starting at its own 28, the Wolves drove to the Spartans 1-yard line, where Shawnee faced fourth down in the closing seconds.

With no timeouts left, Shawnee quarterback Brayle Brown fumbled after he was hit by Bixby's Reed Timms. Adam Grinstead recovered to give the Spartans the ball with just one second to go.

Brown passed for three first-half touchdowns and finished with 219 yards through the air. But Shawnee didn't score in the second half.

"Our defense put pressure on Shawnee in the second half and we didn't let them have the big play," McGrew said.

Bixby amassed 174 yards through the air with Austin White netting four receptions for 75 yards. Wilson had 62 yards on just two catches.

BIXBY 28, SHAWNEE 21

Bixby 0 7 14 7 — 28
Shawnee 14 7 0 0 — 21

S: Davis 15 pass from Brown (Daniel kick)

S: Davis 17 pass from Brown (Young kick)

B: Jennings 27 run (Fiscus kick)

S: Saxon 31 pass from Brown (Young kick)

B: White 11 pass from Lamb (Fiscus kick)

B: Jennings 8 run (Fiscus kick)

B: Wilson 37 pass from Jennings (Fiscus kick)

Bixby Shawnee
First Downs 17 17
Rushes-Yards 33-153 40-113
Passing Yards 174 219
Comp-Att-Int 8-12-1 15-26-1
Punts-Avg 3-37.0 4-26.8
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 1-1
Penalties-Yards 7-75 6-30



By DUANE DAPRON World Correspondent