Flomaton squeaks by with 43-42 win

When Flomaton quarterback Daquan Johnson scored a touchdown with 3:55 left in the game Friday night at Thomasville to pull the Hurricanes to within one point of the Tigers it was gut-check time. Head coach Doug Vickery first considered kicking the extra point and hope for overtime. His players convinced him otherwise.

Johnson kept the ball on a two-point try and barely made it into the end zone to seal Flomaton's 43-42 win over the Class 3A 6th ranked Thomasville Tigers.

It will be gut-check time this Friday night when Flomaton plays host to T.R. Miller. A Flomaton win and the Hurricanes will clinch the second seed in the region and open the playoffs at home. Lose and the Hurricanes will be eliminated from post-season play.

Vickery said after Johnson scored the late touchdown he was ready to kick the PAT and tie the game. But he said his kicker, Da'Shun Odom said his leg was bothering him. Johnson then told the coach "lets just go for it".

"He made a fantastic run on the two-point try," Vickery said.

Vickery said he felt Thomasville was the best team Flomaton has played this season top to bottom.

"I was proud of our guys going to Thomasville, getting up on them but them see the lead evaporate," he said. "We were down two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the resiliency our team showed to come back was unbelievable."

"That was the best team we've beat in the 13 years I've been here," Vickery said. "That says a lot about these kids. The coaches did a good job with the game plan and we executed when we had to."

Vickery said he expects a packed house Friday night when T.R. Miller comes to Flomaton with huge playoff implications on the line.

"This is where you want to be at this time of the year," Vickery said. "You control your own destiny."

Flomaton cracked the scoreboard first on a 1-yard run by Johnson with 23 seconds left in the first quarter. Odom's PAT gave the Canes the early 7-0 lead.

Thomasville tied the game at 7-7 with 8:30 left in the first half on a 3-yard run that started a wild offensive show in the second quarter.

Johnson hit Odom on a 64-yard touchdown pass with 7:11 left in the second quarter and Odom's PAT gave Flomaton a 14-7 lead.

Flomaton would stretch its lead to 21-7 when Johnson hit Quincie McCall on a 36-yard touchdown pass, followed by Odom's kick.

Thomasville came roaring back with a 35-yard touchdown run with 2:35 left in the half and a 30-yard touchdown pass with 50 seconds left to give Thomasville a 22-21 lead.

But the Canes weren't through. Johnson found McCall again on a 65-yard touchdown pass. Odom carried the two-point try into the end zone and Flomaton took a 29-22 lead into the lockerroom at the half.

Thomasville came out in the second half and appeared ready to take control of the football game. The Tigers scored on a 13-yard pass and then returned a fumble 35-yards for a touchdown to take a 36-29 lead into the fourth quarter.

Thomasville scored again with 10:32 left in the game to take a 42-29 lead.

But Flomaton fought back beginning with another Johnson to McCall pass for a 51-yard touchdown. The PAT kick failed and Flomaton trailed by seven, 42-35, with 7:31 left in the game.

Johnson then found the end zone from 9 yards out with 3:55 to play that set up the all-important decision on whether or not to go for two. The right call was made and Johnson crossed the goal line to give the Canes the 43-42 lead.

Flomaton's defense then did its job and kept the Tigers off the scoreboard. The Flomaton offense got the ball back late and picked up a crucial first down late that allowed the Canes the drain the clock.

Flomaton put up 541 yards of total offense with 246 on the ground and 295 through the air with Johnson carrying the bulk of the load. He ran for 188 yards and passed for 295 to account for 483 yards of offense. McCall was on the receiving end of seven of Johnson's passes for 169 yards and Devonta Bradley ended the night with 12 carries for 89 yards.

Thomasville had 189 yards rushing on 32 attempts and picked up 126 yards passing on 10 of 17 completions for a total offensive effort of 315 yards.

"The offensive line did a great job Friday night," Vickery said. "They opened holes and they protected the quarterback. It was a big win, we just need to stay focused and bring our A game Friday night."