Quitman rallies from 13 down, wins in double overtime

Quitman 42, Bigelow 40

QUITMAN — John Waggoner caught a deflected two-point pass in the second overtime, and Quitman stopped Bigelow’s conversion attempt to complete a 42-40 comeback victory Friday night.

Neither team scored in the first quarter. Bigelow quarterback Wrangler Manes opened the scoring with a touchdown run at 11:41 of the second. Dylan McThorn’s 20-yard touchdown run finished Quitman’s four-play, 85-yard answer.

Nathan Brackett’s 1-yard touchdown run restored Bigelow’s lead to 14-7. Malachi Goodroe answered from the 1, and Quitman’s successful two-point conversion put the Bulldogs ahead 15-14 with 3:28 before halftime.

Bigelow regained the lead after JaCour Dunlap intercepted a deflected pass early in the third quarter. His return touchdown was erased by a penalty, but Manes subsequently threw a touchdown pass. Manes added a rushing touchdown with 5:32 remaining in the quarter for a 28-15 lead.

Quitman quarterback Jack Sexton scored on a short run with 8:23 left in the fourth. Bigelow blocked the extra point, keeping its lead at 28-21. Caleb Ellington’s third-and-10 reception extended the drive that produced Sexton’s first fourth-quarter touchdown run.

McThorn then returned a punt to Bigelow’s 20. On third-and-10, Sexton scrambled 20 yards for a touchdown, and the extra point tied it.

Quitman blocked Brackett’s 42-yard field-goal attempt with four seconds remaining. Sexton took a knee to send the game into overtime.

Brackett scored on a 3-yard run in the first overtime, but Quitman stopped the two-point run. Sexton answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ellington. Bigelow blocked the extra point, forcing another overtime at 34-34.

Quitman scored on a 1-yard run before Sexton’s conversion pass deflected into Waggoner’s hands for a 42-34 lead. Manes answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass, but Bigelow’s conversion pass fell incomplete.

Manes accounted for four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing. Quitman improved to 2-0.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

No scoring. Tied 0-0.

2nd Quarter

Bigelow — Wrangler Manes touchdown run (Nathan Brackett kick), 11:41. Bigelow 7, Quitman 0.

Quitman — Dylan McThorn 20-yard touchdown run (kick good). Tied 7-7.

Bigelow — Brackett 1-yard touchdown run (Brackett kick). Bigelow 14, Quitman 7.

Quitman — Malachi Goodroe 1-yard touchdown run (two-point conversion good), 3:28. Quitman 15, Bigelow 14.

3rd Quarter

Bigelow — Touchdown pass from Manes,  (Brackett kick). Bigelow 21, Quitman 15.

Bigelow — Manes touchdown run (kick good), 5:32. Bigelow 28, Quitman 15.

4th Quarter

Quitman — Jack Sexton touchdown run (kick blocked), 8:23. Bigelow 28, Quitman 21.

Quitman — Sexton 20-yard touchdown run on third-and-10 (kick good). Tied 28-28.

1st Overtime

Bigelow — Brackett 3-yard touchdown run (two-point run stopped). Bigelow 34, Quitman 28.

Quitman — Caleb Ellington 10-yard touchdown pass from Sexton (Jackson Boyd kick blocked). Tied 34-34.

2nd Overtime

Quitman — 1-yard touchdown run,  (John Waggoner two-point pass from Sexton). Quitman 42, Bigelow 34.

Bigelow — 10-yard touchdown pass from Manes, (two-point pass incomplete). Quitman 42, Bigelow 40.

Players Who Stood Out

• Jack Sexton, Quitman, quarterback: Two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns, including a 20-yard scramble on third-and-10. Threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ellington in the first overtime and the decisive two-point pass to Waggoner in the second.
• Dylan McThorn, Quitman, running back: 20-yard rushing touchdown to finish Quitman’s first scoring drive. His fourth-quarter punt return to Bigelow’s 20 set up the tying touchdown.
• Caleb Ellington, Quitman, tight end: Three receptions, according to the broadcast, including a 10-yard touchdown in overtime. Converted third-and-10 with a reception on Quitman’s first fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
• Wrangler Manes, Bigelow, quarterback: Accounted for four touchdowns — two rushing and two passing. His second rushing touchdown extended Bigelow’s lead to 28-15; his 10-yard touchdown pass in the second overtime brought the Panthers within two points.
• Nathan Brackett, Bigelow, running back: Two rushing touchdowns, covering 1 and 3 yards. His first-overtime score gave Bigelow a 34-28 lead.