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Watson’s overtime field goal trips Jays

Holy Cross is 1-0 in District 9-5A

By Michael Smith Staff writer

Game played Saturday, September 26, 1998

Holy Cross has a tradition after the Tigers win a football game. The seniors are hoisted on the shoulders of their teammates and celebrate by ringing a huge bell that hangs in front of the office at the school.

Senior Bobby Henderson has always dreamed of ringing that bell.

On Saturday night, Henderson got to ring the bell after Brian Watson kicked a 35-yard field goal in overtime to help Holy Cross (2-2, 1-0) defeat Jesuit 20-17, at Tad Gormley Stadium in the District 9-5A opener for both teams.

“This is my first year on the team, but that’s always been in my heart,” said Henderson, who caught five passes for 120 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. “I got to do it last week when we beat Chalmette, but this one is really great.”

Jesuit (1-3, 0-1) had the ball first in overtime, but on third down from the 11-yard line, Tigers defensive back Shea Maheia intercepted Perrin Rittner’s pass, giving Holy Cross possession at the Blue Jays 10-yard line.

The Tigers attempted a field goal on first down, but a bad snap resulted in an 8-yard loss. Brandon Biamonte’s run on second down placed the ball between the hash marks, setting up the winning kick.

“It felt great,” said Watson, who also kicked a 35-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the first half to tie the score at 3. “I’ve always wanted to beat Jesuit. This is the greatest feeling I’ve ever felt in my life.”

Trailing 17-3 with 7:46 remaining in the game, the Tigers drove 77 yards in two plays and scored when Kevin Preau found Henderson in the back of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown. Watson’s extra point cut the lead to seven with 7:14 remaining.

Two possessions later, Preau, who passed for 238 yards with no interceptions, threw to Henderson for  a 14-yard touchdown pass with 1:30 remaining. Henderson ran a fade route to the right corner of the end zone and Preau delivered a perfect pass despite tight coverage from two Jesuit defenders. Watson’s extra point tied the score and sent the game into overtime.

“We’ve got good chemistry,” Henderson said, “When he (Preau) goes back to pass, I know it’s coming to me.”

Jesuit fumbled six times in the first half but got on track to begin the second half. The Blue Jays took the lead when Rittner threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Brandt Quick with 2:05 remaining in the third quarter. On Jesuit’s next possession, Quick scored on a 13-yard run to extend the Blue Jays’ lead to 14. Quick finished with 160 yards on 28 carries. 

“Holy Cross always plays us hard,” Jesuit coach Jay Pittman said. “We seem to bring out the best in them. They did what they had to do to win and we didn’t.”

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