Lindbergh beats Hazen 13-7 in last-second thriller to stay undefeated

Published 1:14 pm Monday, September 30, 2013

The Lindbergh Eagles football team stayed undefeated this weekend with a thrilling last-second 13-7 victory over Hazen Friday at Renton Memorial Stadium.

With red, white and blue decorations draped over the home stands for their homecoming game, Lindbergh’s Devon Jackson scored the winning touchdown with 2.2 seconds left on the clock to send Eagles fans home happy.

The two teams looked evenly matched through most of the game, as both squads moved back and forth on the field, but could put the ball in the end zone.

Finally, with three minutes to go in the first half, Jackson took the snap and scrambled to his right, then back left and finally up the middle, fighting his way into the end zone for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

But Hazen battled back in the final minutes, taking the ball all the down to the Lindbergh 23-yard line, but a fourth and 6 pass attempt was nearly picked off and the teams headed to the locker room with Lindbergh up by a touchdown.

On the opening possession of the second half, Lindbergh recovered a Hazen fumble, only to fumble it right back on their first play from scrimmage, but the Highlanders could not convert.

The teams battled back and forth until late in the fourth quarter.

Hazen got the ball back with about six minutes on the clock and kept their drive alive with a fourth down pitch to Marquis Lee.

Then, with 1:49 left on the clock, Lee caught a 19-yard pass from Nolan Hoover tie, setting up an extra point that following a bad snap, but excellent recovery tied the game at 7.

On the ensuing drive, Lindbergh worked the ball all the way down the field to set up a first and 10 from the 10-yard line with 47.1 seconds on the clock.

A pair of runs set up a fourth and goal from the 1-yard line with 7.1 seconds left on the clock and the game tied.

Lindbergh lined up for their final play, but was called for a false start penalty, making it 4th and goal from the 6-yard line.

With time running down, Jackson hung on to the ball on a quarterback keeper and fought his way through the line, dragging a handful of Highlander defenders across the goal line for a 13-7 lead with 2.2 seconds left, sending Lindbergh fans into a frenzy on their sidelines.

Lindbergh missed the extra point, but time ran out on the ensuing kickoff to give the Eagles the victory and a perfect 4-0 record so far this season. Hazen falls to 1-3.

Lindbergh travels for Foster Friday for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Bulldogs. Hazen takes on Kennedy at 7 p.m. Friday at Renton Memorial Stadium.