The 6-4 Dothan High School Tigers won’t be making this season’s playoffs, courtesy of the Bearcats and their 27-24 overtime victory at Rip Hewes Stadium in Dothan, Ala.
Senior Bainbridge kicker Daniel Provence lined up for a 25-yard field goal on first down in the first overtime with the game tied 24-24 and sent the ball straight between the goal posts for the win.
“This was the moment I’ve been waiting for,” Provence said. “The coaches let me kick the field goal on the first down of overtime. Obviously they were really confident, so I had no reason not to be confident in myself.”
Bainbridge has now bumped up to 5-4 for the season, 2-2 within their region.
Senior quarterback Preston Norris was 12 for 17, throwing 142 passing yard. His touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Greg Cooper tied the Bearcats with the Tigers 24-24 with 2:25 left in the game.
“I was just trying to get open,” Cooper said. “In my head I was saying, ‘Make a play, make a play’. You’ve got to believe in the process.”
Cooper had to stretch above a Dothan defender for the catch and miraculously came down with the ball for the score. Provence’s extra point was good and the Tigers had a situation on their hands.
“(Cooper) was actually my second guy,” Norris said. “I saw him open in the back of the end zone. I knew he could make the play.”
The Bainbridge defense held Dothan back from any score attempts and forced them to punt on fourth down. The Bearcats got off one play before Norris took a knee and let the clock run out to have the game go into overtime.
The Tigers had the ball first on the 20 yard line and weren’t able to muster any significant progress toward the end zone. On fourth down, Dothan quarterback Khiran Williams threw a pass that was intercepted by senior corner Tavarius Bowens. The refs placed the ball at the spot of the interception. The Bearcats needed to score to win.
Littleton trusted in Provence to get the job done. When his kick was called good, the team ran off the sidelines, cheering.
“There aren’t any words for this,” Provence said. “It’s what you live for.”
Senior running back Aaron Calloway moved the ball on the ground with 144 rushing yards on 32 carries. All three Bainbridge touchdowns were scored on pass plays. Norris connected with wide receivers Craig Cooper, Shawon Gardner and Greg Cooper on the final touchdown of regulation.
“We said big time players make big time plays,” said head coach Jeff Littleton. “(Norris) and (Cooper) hooked up and that’s what happened. You can’t say enough about the fight in the kids. The coaches had a heck of a game. Everything came together.”
Next Friday, Bainbridge travels to Lee County to take on the 7-1 Trojans as their last home game of the season.