CLEVELAND — White County had already lost enough close games this season -- Kirby King was not about to let another one slip away.
The Warriors junior refused to bite on a North Hall play fake and stuffed a two-point run attempt in overtime to hand White County its first win of the season, 24-23 in overtime in Cleveland.
“We were jubilant after the game; they were so excited. It was a big win for us, North Hall being ranked 10th in the state and being a big rival of ours,” White County coach Bill Ballard said. "Kirby King made a great play off the edge. They faked it to their great running back (Kyle) Bacus and King made a great play."
Bacus, who finished the game with 129 yards rushing and three touchdowns, had scored from a yard out in overtime, and the Trojans (3-1) opted to go for the win in overtime. But the Warriors (1-3), who had lost a 17-7 halftime lead, were not going to allow another contest to slip away.
"Our kids played so hard; we had a ton of guys cramping, and I know they did too," Ballard said. "It was just big to get that win."
It proved a game of dueling rush attacks, the Warriors' option attack rolling up 271 yards on the ground -- just ahead of the Trojans' wing-T total of 252.
Kaleb Crane provided the big plays for White County, scoring three touchdowns and finishing with 105 yards. He opened the scoring with a 46-yard run in the first quarter and also had the Warriors' overtime touchdown, sprinting in from 20 yards. He also had a five-yard run in the second quarter that, combined with Brett Bardenwerper's 39-yard field goal, helped White County to a 10-point lead at the interval.
Yet North Hall was far from finished and scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to knot the score, but the Trojans could not come up with the final play to complete the comeback.
North Hall will travel to Fannin County next week to begin Region 7-AAA play.
White County, meanwhile, will travel to Dawson County next week in non-region play.
