By Sedrick Bolton III November 9, 2022
HAMPTON A potential mishap in the score causes two overtime periods, which allowed Drew to close the game out and win 25-19. Lovejoy had what would have been the game-winning drive, but the referees ruled that they tied the score.
The Lady Titans controlled the first half. Following Lovejoy's punt, Kamyia Camaca takes the punt return straight to the end zone for the score. The extra point would be no good.
The Lady Wildcats had great catches for decent returns, with one coming from junior Sadiya Kuyateh off a tipped pass. But Drew's defense prevented any scores. After stopping Lovejoy on 4th down, Lady Titans' quarterback Takierra Greenson throws a touchdown pass to Stephanie Rice. Again, the extra point would be no good.
With Drew having the sixth highest scoring offense coming into today's game, the team got off to a good first half.
"We haven't been able to execute like that for several games now," said Drew's head coach Willie Sewell. "So seeing the girls execute the way they do in practice was a good confidence builder moving forward."
In the second half, Lovejoy turned the tides of the game on offense and defense.
The Lady Wildcats halted the long passes Drew tried to throw. They even got an interception to bring the ball closer to their end zone. Lovejoy capitalized off the turnover with quarterback Akilah Arnold throwing a touchdown pass to get the first points on the board. They could not convert on the extra point.
On the ensuing Drew drive, the Lady Titans got called for three straight penalties which back them far from the first down marker. The Lady Wildcats stop them and get the ball back with :15 seconds left.
In that time, Arnolds throws another touchdown pass. On the one-point attempt, Arnolds keeps the ball to convert on the one-point attempt.
With the crowd in delight and cheer that Lovejoy had what was presumed to be the game-winning drive, the referees appeared to signal that they only tied the game at 13. With the referees' call being final, overtime took place.
In the first overtime, Lovejoy gets the touchdown off a tipped pass and their player being at the right place at the right time. Drew followed suit with Emory Johnson rushing in for the touchdown. With neither team scoring on the extra point, second overtime took place.
This time, the Lady Titans gets the first opportunity to score. Greenson calls up her own number and rushes in for the touchdown, but the extra point would be unsuccessful.
The Lady Wildcats had the chance to tie the game or win it. The Lady Titans' defense stood tall, coming up with a sack to seal the game.
With this victory, Drew finds themselves in a position where they have to defeat the top two teams in their area to qualify for the playoffs. But this challenge is something the Lady Titans are prepared to face.
"Like we tell the athletes all the time 'Pressure bust pipes or make diamonds'," said Coach Sewell.
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