Touchdown with 13 seconds left lifts Reedley College over Merced

If anyone could relate to the Merced College football team’s pain, it was Reedley.

The Tigers have been burned for losses on the final drive in two games this season and were staring into the face of a third as the Blue Devils took a lead with 1:10 to play Saturday afternoon.

Determined not to have history repeat itself, Reedley quarterback Joshua Allen snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by finding Caleb Horton for a 32-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds remaining to give the Tigers a wild 45-40 victory at Stadium ’76.

“My guys battled hard for four quarters, which is all I can ask of them,” Blue Devils coach Bob Casey said. “We had some guys out of the lineup, but it really came down to execution. The way I see it, they just made one more play than us.

“It’s a tough loss, but I told the guys after the game that they still have everything we’ve set as goals to play for. We can still earn at least a share of the (Golden Coast Conference) title and make a bowl game, but we’re going to have to win out now.”

The Blue Devils (4-4, 3-1 Golden Coast) appeared to be 70 seconds away from victory.

Merced built a 34-20 lead after a dominant third quarter. Running back Josh Stevens (153 rushing yards, 79 receiving yards) scored two of his three touchdowns in the third, but Reedley (4-4, 3-1) stormed back in the fourth.

Casey’s squad was without two of its best players in the secondary (safety Malik Williams and defensive back Devron Davis), and the Tigers took advantage in the fourth. Allen (28 for 47, 470 yards and seven touchdowns) sparked a 19-point run that gave Reedley a 39-34 lead with 3:38 to play.

Merced responded. Starting at their 32-yard line, the Blue Devils turned in a seven-play, 68-yard drive. On a gutsy fourth-and-3 call, Juwan Brown (343 total yards, four touchdown passes) hit Jacque Harris on a wide receiver screen. Harris got a block, hurdled a man and then sprinted in for a 15-yard go-ahead score with 1:10 left.

“Getting that score was a good feeling,” said Harris, who opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown catch. “We knew the game wasn’t over, but we felt like we had it.

“Losing that game was a definite punch to the gut, but we have to put it behind us and play a little better (this) week.”

The final drive started on the wrong foot as two Blue Devils had a chance to pin kick returner Mackensley Coby inside the Reedley 20. Both whiffed and Coby handed Reedley the ball just shy of midfield.

Allen completed three straight passes, moving the ball to the Merced 32 with 21 seconds left. The Blue Devils applied good pressure on the ensuing play, but Allen’s legs let him slip outside. Horton was lost in the secondary along the way and left wide open for the winning score.

The Blue Devils can still earn a share of the GCC title by winning their last two games, at West Hills on Saturday and then at home against Cabrillo on Nov. 15.

Aaron Wolfe had 13 tackles, and Stephon Brown and Isi Holani each had two of the Blue Devils’ six sacks.

This story was originally published November 2, 2014 at 11:31 PM with the headline "Touchdown with 13 seconds left lifts Reedley College over Merced."