Wayne Christian Survives Ravenscroft Thriller With Game-Saving Two-Point Stop, 32-31
Jamari Hill rushes for 271 yards, Urban Johnson scores twice and the Eagles’ defense answers the call with the game on the line.
GOLDSBORO - Ravenscroft had one play to steal a victory Thursday night. Wayne Christian had one play to save it.
After watching the Ravens march down the field on their final possession and score a touchdown to pull within one point, the Eagles faced the biggest defensive snap of their season.
Ravenscroft elected to go for two and the win, trailing 32-31.
Wayne Christian’s defense stuffed the conversion attempt, preserving a thrilling 32-31 victory in a back-and-forth contest that featured five fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Senior Jamari Hill rushed for 271 yards and two touchdowns, while Urban Johnson added 92 rushing yards and two scores as Wayne Christian improved to 6-2 overall and earned its first conference victory.
Ravenscroft strikes first, Eagles respond
Ravenscroft opened the scoring when quarterback Jackson Tolbert connected with junior receiver Jack Cantando for a touchdown, giving the Ravens a 6-0 lead with three minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Wayne Christian answered in the second period behind the leg of kicker Ben Williams.
Williams connected on a 41-yard field goal with 8:25 remaining before halftime, cutting Ravenscroft’s advantage to 6-3.
The Eagles’ defense delivered a critical play later in the quarter when Darrius Edwards intercepted a Ravenscroft pass with 3:30 remaining, giving Wayne Christian one of its four interceptions on the night.
Hill provided the offensive spark the Eagles needed.
The senior running back broke free for a long gain that helped set up his own 1-yard touchdown run. With 1:51 left in the half, Wayne Christian trailed 13-10.
The Eagles also came up with a defensive stop on a Ravenscroft screen pass before halftime, preventing the Ravens from adding to their lead.
Despite the defensive plays and Hill’s touchdown, Wayne Christian entered the break facing a three-point deficit.
Hill’s 53-yard touchdown changes momentum
It didn’t take Wayne Christian long to flip the scoreboard in the third quarter.
Hill exploded for a 53-yard touchdown run, his second score of the night, putting the Eagles ahead 17-13 with 9:30 remaining in the period.
The long touchdown was part of a remarkable performance for Hill, who finished with 271 yards on just 21 carries.
His 12.9 yards per carry made him the game’s leading rusher by more than 100 yards.
Wayne Christian carried its 17-13 advantage into the fourth quarter, but the final 12 minutes would turn into a dramatic exchange of touchdowns.
Fourth-quarter shootout sets up dramatic finish
Johnson became one of the central figures in the final period.
The senior scored both of his rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, helping Wayne Christian produce 15 points during the period.
The Eagles extended their advantage to 24-13 with 9:15 remaining, putting Ravenscroft in an 11-point hole.
But the Ravens weren’t finished.
Tolbert found Cantando again for a touchdown, trimming Wayne Christian’s lead to 24-19 with 7:50 left.
Ravenscroft continued its comeback and eventually moved ahead 25-24, forcing Wayne Christian to answer.
The Eagles’ offense delivered.
Johnson helped keep the offense moving with a stretch of three consecutive plays, while Gabe Willis made one of the game’s biggest receptions on fourth down to extend a possession.
Johnson’s playmaking helped Wayne Christian regain the lead. The Eagles scored a touchdown and added a successful two-point conversion to go ahead 32-25.
Still, seven points weren’t enough to put the Ravens away.
Ravenscroft mounted one final drive, moving down the field and scoring another touchdown to make it 32-31.
With the game potentially headed toward a tie, the Ravens instead elected to attempt a two-point conversion for the victory.
Wayne Christian’s defense stood its ground.
The Eagles stopped Ravenscroft short of the goal line, preserving the one-point victory and completing an emotional fourth quarter.
The teams combined for 33 points in the final period, with Ravenscroft scoring 18 and Wayne Christian answering with 15.
Four interceptions prove crucial
Although the Eagles’ offense produced four rushing touchdowns, Wayne Christian’s defensive takeaways proved equally important.
Tolbert threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns, but the Eagles intercepted him four times.
Edwards, Johnson, Gabe Willis and Wilder Phillips each came away with an interception.
The turnovers helped offset an explosive Ravenscroft offense that finished with 370 yards.
Cantando was particularly difficult to contain. The junior caught 11 passes for 153 yards and all three of Ravenscroft’s receiving touchdowns, averaging 13.9 yards per reception.
Freshman running back Nazir Brown also delivered a strong performance for the Ravens, rushing 21 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Brown averaged 7.6 yards per carry.
Tolbert completed 17 of 26 passes, spreading the football to five receivers.
Wayne Christian countered with a powerful rushing attack.
Hill and Johnson combined for 363 rushing yards and all four Eagles touchdowns on the ground.
Johnson also completed one of two passes for 18 yards, with Willis recording the reception.
Eagles earn first conference victory
Thursday’s win carried significance beyond the dramatic finish.
Ravenscroft defeated Wayne Christian 35-20 last season, but the Eagles reversed the result in front of their home crowd.
Wayne Christian improved to 6-2 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Ravenscroft fell to 2-6.
The Eagles will travel to face North Raleigh Christian Academy on Friday, Oct. 23, while Ravenscroft returns home to host Harrells Christian Academy.
For a team led by a 271-yard rushing performance, four defensive interceptions and two fourth-quarter touchdowns from Johnson, the deciding moment ultimately came down to a single defensive play.
Wayne Christian needed one stop. And the Eagles got it.
By the Numbers
Scoring by quarter
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravenscroft | 6 | 7 | 0 | 18 | 31 |
| Wayne Christian | 0 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 32 |
Wayne Christian individual statistics
| Player | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Jamari Hill | 21 carries, 271 yards, 2 TD |
| Urban Johnson | 92 rushing yards, 2 rushing TD; 18 passing yards; 1 INT defensively |
| Gabe Willis | 1 reception, 18 yards; 1 INT |
| Darrius Edwards | 1 INT |
| Wilder Phillips | 1 INT |
| Ben Williams | 41-yard field goal |
Combined rushing production (Hill and Johnson): 363 yards, four touchdowns. Team interceptions: 4.
Ravenscroft individual statistics
| Player | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Jackson Tolbert | 17-of-26, 210 passing yards, 3 TD, 4 INT |
| Nazir Brown | 21 carries, 160 rushing yards, 2 TD |
| Jack Cantando | 11 receptions, 153 yards, 3 TD |
| Kingston Adams | 3 receptions, 39 yards |
| Cole Dirks | 1 reception, 6 yards |
| Joshua Carlton | 1 reception, 3 yards |
| Sam Campos | 1 reception, 9 yards |
Ravenscroft team totals: 370 total yards (210 passing, 160 rushing), five touchdowns and four interceptions thrown.