WINDER — Brock Landis made the most of his varsity debut Friday night.
The sophomore quarterback threw for one touchdown and ran for three others, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead Winder-Barrow to a stunning 35-34, come-from-behind win over previously unbeaten Salem in a crucial Region 8-AAAAA game at home.
The Bulldoggs (2-3, 2-2 Region 8-AAAAA) trailed the entire contest and were down 28-13 early in the fourth quarter. But Landis connected with Andre Jackson for a touchdown pass to close the gap to 28-20 and then scored on a 5-yard run with 2:24 left to get within 28-26. Joey Junius ran in a two-point conversion tie the game. Jackson also had a touchdown run on a fake field goal attempt for the Bulldoggs earlier in the game.
In overtime, Winder-Barrow needed just two plays -- a 14-yard pass from Landis to Cole Horn and a 1-yard touchdown run from Landis -- to grab its first lead of the game.
Salem would not go quietly. The Seminoles (4-1, 3-1) scored on a touchdown pass on their first play in overtime and then opted to go for the win. But Winder-Barrow senior defensive lineman John Pritchett sealed the win sacking the Salem quarterback on the two-point conversion.
"It was a must-win. We had to have this one,” Winder-Barrow coach Heath Webb said. “They never quit and just made some unbelievable plays down the stretch.”
What made the win even more remarkable is that the Bulldoggs were without 2014 Region 8-AAAAA Player of the Year CeCe Green (sprained knee) and lost both starting offensive guards during the game.
“If you would have told me would beat an undefeated team without the Player of the Year and half our (offensive) line I would have said you were crazy,” Webb said. “But it was a crazy game. Just a tremendous effort.”
