CLEVELAND — Kaleb Crane scored three second half touchdowns, including one with just 1:05 left in the game, to help White County rally for a thrilling 33-30 win over West Hall Friday night at White County Stadium.
The win sealed third place in Region 7-AAAA for the Warriors (7-2, 2-1 Region 7-AAAA) who will close out the regular season next week ata home against No. 4 Marist (9-0, 3-0) with a shot to claim the region title.
Crane's game-winning score capped a back-and-forth affair that saw the lead change hands four times in the final 14 minutes of the game. The Warriors actually led 20-7 early in the third quarter after the first of Crane's three scores.
But the Spartans (5-4, 12-) got a 7-yard Quentin Smith touchdown run to cap a quick drive and they grabbed their first lead since the first quarter on a 64-yard blast up the middle by Austin Sinclair for a 21-20 lead with 2:30 left in the third quarter.
But Crane again capped a long 14-play 80-yard drive with a 1-yard scoring run on fourth down to reclaim the lead 27-21. White County converted three fourth down plays on the drive.
But West Hall answered back when quarterback Michael Thompson scored on a 22-yard run to retake the lead at 28-27 with just 5:32 left.
But a tired West Hall defense could not stop the Warriors ground attack as Crane an 80-yard drive with the game-winner.
West Hall had one last chance to try and answer back but a Thompson passed was picked off with 1:05 left and Crane ran out the final 11 seconds on a pair of runs, the final one into the West Hall end zone for a safety as a time ran out.
The Spartans scored first when Thompson and Cameron Shirley connecetd on a 15-yard touchdown pass. White County freshman quarterback J. Ben Haynes then gave the Warriors what would be a 12-7 halftime lead on a pair of touchdown passes to Ty Ulrich, one of 65-yards and the second from 43-yards.
Crane finished with 158 yards to lead White County. Haynes was 13-of-22 for 205 yards and the two scores for the Warriors.
Sinclair paced West Hall with 116 yards on just 8 carries. Thompson rushed 16 times for 85 yards.
