Salado stuns Academy with late interception for TD Posted On: Saturday, Oct. 24 2009 06:01 AM By Nick Talbot
Killeen Daily Herald

The ball popped loose from the wide receivers' grasp and fell right into Hunter Ward's hands.

What he did next, though, was not as easy. After intercepting Kyle Kuban's pass at the 28-yard line, Ward returned it for the touchdown to give the Eagles a seven-point lead over Academy with 59 seconds remaining in the game.

"My guy ran a flag route and (Kuban) threw the ball to the back and it fell right into my arms," Ward said. "I just ran for my life."

Then like, it had all night, the Salado (3-6, 3-2 25-2A) defense bent but did not break and the Eagles upset the Bumblebees 20-13 and kept their playoff chances alive Friday at Eagle Stadium.

"We have been through so much this year and (the kids) really deserved that win," said Salado coach Jeff Cheatham. "We are back in it. WithRogers losing tonight, we still have some life."

The Eagles had opened district 2-0, with wins over Florence and Jarrell.

However, Salado lost to Lexington and Lago Vista 17-10 and 14-0, respectively.

The losses put them in a must-win situation Friday. For the most part, Salado answered the call.

The Eagles overcame three crucial fumbles — all in Bumblebees (5-3, 2-2) territory — with the help of its defense, the best passing effort of the season by Cole Brentham and, of course, the game-winning interception return by Ward.

"We have been working hard all year, we just had some bad breaks," said Brentham, who was 16-of-21 passing for 210 yards. "Tonight we jumped over the mountain."

Academy hasn't beaten Salado since 2005 and before Friday's close-fought game, the Bees had lost the last three by a combined score of 120-27.

However, judging by its first possession it looked like Academy was going to churn on all cylinders all night long and end that streak.

Kuban set up the Bumblebees' first score with a 29-yard run up the middle of the Salado defense and then took it in himself with a 2-yard plunge to give the Bumblebees a 7-0 lead.

Things looked almost as good on Academy's second possession. Layton Willis came off tackle for a 22-yard gain and Kuban completed a pass to Trent Denio to get Academy inside the 10.

Four plays later, though, it was Salado ball at the 9. The Eagles defense stuffed Kuban and Willis on first and second down then forced two incomplete passes for the turnover on downs.

The stop changed the momentum of the game.

With time running down in the half, the Eagles took to the air. Brentham completed 4 of 7 passes for 41 yards on the drive. Even more important though, was on a key third down, Brentham was sacked. However, a late hit by the Bumblebees gave the Eagles new life.

They took advantage of it.

After an incompletion and a stop by Academy set Salado up with third-and-goal from the 1, Brentham was forced to rush to the line with 17 seconds left. The senior quarterback got the push from his offensive line that he needed and the junior quarterback tied the game at 7-7.

In the third quarter, though, Layton Willis broke free down the sideline for a 72-yard touchdown run and a 13-7 lead. And momentum looked like it was going to go back to the Bumblebees.

Especially after turnovers ruined three opportunities for the Eagles. Ward and Silva both caught passes inside the Bumblebees 20, but fumbled.

And then the Eagles fumbled at the Academy 47.

It did not matter, though. The Salado defense did not budge the rest of the night.

And when it mattered most, the Eagles came up with the big play.

The first one came midway through the fourth quarter when Brentham found Shannon Ponder wide open for a 90-yard touchdown pass.

"They were playing cover 2, the corners were biting down and the safety was coming over the top," Brentham said. "… I pump-faked, the corner bit and bloop — right over the top and touchdown."

Then, of course, came the last-minute interception return by Ward.

"It has been a year of momentum changes and we kept losing it," Cheatham said. "Then Hunter made a great play there and gave us a pick-me-up.

"That is what you have to do — find ways to win — and tonight we finally did that."