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Jefferson edges Hillsborough 16-15

By GREGG BECNEL

Tribune correspondent

Published: September 5, 2009

Which football team has been the most surprising this year?

TAMPA - Trailing by one point with 1:01 remaining, Jefferson coach Mike Fenton had to make a tough decision.

Go for the tie or go for the win?

Turns out it wasn't that difficult a decision after speaking with junior quarterback Quentin Williams.

"We thought about kicking it, but then we said, 'We came here to win,'" Fenton said. "I asked Quentin if he could make it in, and he looked me in the eyes and said, 'Yeah,' so we went for it."

Williams' 2-point keeper after Eric Royster's 2-yard touchdown run was the difference in the visiting Dragons' 16-15 win in Friday's season opener at Chelo Huerta Field.

"This was a big win for us," Fenton said. "I know it's early, but this really was big."

Jefferson's defense made it stand by thwarting Hillsborough's late rally attempt.

Terriers senior quarterback Tarean Austin completed three passes on the final drive to set Hillsborough up at the Jefferson 38. But on first-and-10 he tried to go long down the right sideline and was intercepted by Rodney Mills at the 3 with 31.9 seconds left.

"When I saw the ball in the air I was just thinking, 'Catch the ball. Catch the ball,'" said Mills, who also picked off Austin in the first half. "I knew I could get it when I saw it hanging up there too long."

The game was delayed for 21 minutes when the stadium lights went out at the 8:19 mark of the second quarter. Three plays after the game resumed, junior Jamie Knott gave Hillsborough a 7-0 lead when he ran in from 6 yards.

Jefferson answered on its ensuing possession when Williams capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 6-yard keeper 3:07 before halftime. Demetrius Russell ran in the 2-point conversion to put the Dragons up 8-7.

Hillsborough went up 15-8 after Austin's 1-yard sneak and successful 2-point conversion pass to tight end Jordan Duval with 1:34 left in the third.

Williams finished 11-for-21 for 203 yards and one interception, while Austin was 10-for-18 for 111 yards and three picks.