Canes head to finals after 34-33 win

Flomaton High School is headed to Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn for the Class 3A state championship game following a thrilling 34-33 victory over Providence Christian Friday night that wasn't settled until the Hurricanes blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt as time ran off the clock.

The 2018 Hurricanes continue to rewrite the history book. It took Flomaton to the next chapter last week by defeating Pike County 12-10 to advance to the state semi-finals for the first time in the school's 94-year history. The final chapter will be written today (Thursday) when Flomaton takes on Piedmont in an 11 a.m. kickoff for the state title.

"It's probably the best high school football game I've ever been associated with," said Flomaton head coach Doug Vickery. "We just refused to quit and we refused to lose. The heart this team has shown all year is unbelievable. When things looked bad we overcame the obstacles. When our season hung in the balance we found a way to win. I couldn't be more proud of a group of young men than I am with these guys."

Like many other games, Friday night's clash came down to the wire. There were 2.5 seconds left in the game when Providence Christian lined up for a game winning 27-yard field goal. Providence kicker David Warren had already kicked field goals of 33 yards and 32 yards and most of his kickoffs sailed into and out of the end zone. With the game on the line, the snap was good, the hold was good. The thud of the block echoed through Flomaton's stadium as the ball fell helplessly to the turf. The celebration began.

"Those were two very good football teams out there," Vickery said. "The resiliency of this team showed once again."

Like a heavyweight boxing match, both teams delivered massive blows and both teams answered with a blow of their own.

With a squib kick to open the game, the visiting Eagles began their first drive from their own 41-yard line and quickly moved into Flomaton territory. Providence moved for a first and goal at the 7-yard line before George McClintock hit Will Solomon on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Warren added the PAT and with 7:15 left in the first quarter, Providence led 7-0.

Flomaton began its first offensive possession from its own 20 and it didn't take the Hurricanes long to respond. Quarterback Daquan Johnson hit Quincie McCall on an 80-yard touchdown pass. The PAT failed but with 6:24 left in the first quarter, Flomaton had closed the gap to 7-6.

The Eagles recovered a Flomaton onsides kick and took over at their own 48-yard line. Facing a fourth and 4 at the 39-yard line, Flomaton's defense jumped offsides and Providence had a new set of downs. The Eagles took advantage and capped the drive on a 6-yard touchdown run by Issac Gordon. Warren's PAT was blocked and with 2:49 left in the first quarter the Eagles led 13-6.

Travon Brown returned the ensuing kickoff back to the Flomaton 40-yard line. With Johnson and Da'Shun Odom alternating at quarterback the Hurricanes moved for a first down at the Providence 30-yard line as the first quarter came to a close.

On the first play of the second quarter, Odom picked up a first down inside the 2-yard line then took the next snap into the end zone. Odom headed to the right on a two-point try, reversed field and came back left and was able to dive into the end zone for the two points to give Flomaton a 14-13 lead with 10:57 left in the second quarter.

Providence took over after another squib kick at its own 46 and began another march that was aided by a personal foul for targeting against the Canes.

The Eagles got to the 1-yard line but penalties backed them up and Warren kicked a 33-yard field goal to give Providence a 16-14 lead.

Flomaton was able to penetrate into Eagle territory on its next drive but on fourth and 5 at the 32 Johnson's pass fell incomplete and Providence took over with 3:53 left in the half.

The Eagles quickly marched down the field and McClintock hit a wide open Jackson Colley on a 22-yard touchdown pass. Warren's PAT gave the Eagles a 23-14 lead with 1:15 left in the half.

Flomaton took over at its own 20, but Johnson fumbled and Providence was back in business with a first down at the Flomaton 13-yard line.

Flomaton's defense held and Warren kicked a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to give Providence a 26-14 lead at intermission.

"We didn't finish the second quarter very well," Vickery said. "We knew we were getting the ball to start the third and made some adjustments on defense. Everybody was still positive at the half and knew what needed to be done."

Another touchback by Warren gave Flomaton the ball at its own 20-yard line to start the third quarter.

Johnson picked up first downs at the 38 and 45, and Odom picked up a first down at the Providence 42.

Flomaton faced a fourth and 4 from the 34 and Odom lined up in the shotgun. He went off tackle for a 34-yard touchdown run. Odom's PAT was blocked, but with 8:29 left in the third, Flomaton had closed the gap to 26-20.

Providence was able to move to the Flomaton 36-yard line on its next possession but on fourth and 8 from the 36, the Flomaton defense stuffed the play and the Hurricanes took over at their own 35-yard line with 3:19 left in the third quarter.

Johnson then broke free on a 65-yard touchdown run around right end. Odom's PAT was blocked, but with 3:07 left in the third the game was tied at 26-26.

Providence recovered the onsides kick and took over at its own 45. After picking up a first down at the 40 a holding penalty nullified another first down. Facing a third and 18 from the Flomaton 46, Providence picked up another apparent first down on a screen pass, but a block in the back brought the ball back as the third quarter came to a close.

The drive stalled and Providence made the first punt of the night and the Canes took over at their own 16. Flomaton's drive stalled and the Hurricanes punted and Providence was back on offense at its own 40 with 8:41 left in the game.

The Eagles marched toward the goal line and Gordon scored on a 1-yard run. Warren's PAT was good and Providence had retaken the lead at 33-26 with 6:01 left in the game.

After an illegal procedure call put Flomaton in a third and 15 situation at its own 17-yard line, Johnson found Odom along with left sideline for an 83-yard touchdown pass. Johnson then hit Chance James for two points and with 5:30 left in the game, Flomaton led 34-33.

Providence took over with 5:25 left in the game in what would turn out to be the last possession of the game.

Facing a third and 6 at its own 31 Flomaton sacked the quarterback but was called for a facemask penalty that gave the Eagles a first down at the 44. Providence faced a fourth and 6 at the Flomaton 48 before completing a pass for a first down at the 34. The Eagles converted on fourth and 1 to pick up a first down at the Flomaton 24-yard line with 36.8 seconds left in the game.

Providence moved to the Hurricanes' 16-yard line and called timeout with 2.5 seconds left in the game to set up the field goal attempt. Flomaton jumped offsides and the ball was moved to the 11. Warren's kick was low and was blocked on the final play of the game.