Arizona State recruit Al Thompson suffers neck injury; backup catches 3 TDs in final five minutes

Brentwood Home Page news reports
MEMPHIS -- Brentwood Academy ended its postseason run but made a valiant comeback effort Friday after falling behind by four TDs with about 12 minutes to go against Christian Brothers.

The Eagles (9-3) ended up with a 37-34 loss to the host Purple Wave (10-2) in the TSSAA Division II-AA quarterfinals, falling short of the past two seasons' semifinal berths. BA used every second on the clock and even played an extra snap after senior Woody Baron stole the ball out from under the CBHS QB (the Eagle defense was ruled offsides).

Backup receiver Harrison Alexander caught three touchdown passes from BA junior Max Staver in the last five minutes, replacing Arizona State recruit Al Thompson, who was knocked out of the game.

D'montre Wade also broke two 70-plus-yard runs and scored two TDs for the Eagles. Wade's 79-yard run set up his 1-yard score 1:33 before halftime after BA had just fallen behind 21-0 on a blocked punt.

Wade then broke loose for a 71-yard jaunt on the first play from scrimmage after CBHS had taken advantage of Thompson's fumble to go up 34-7 early in the final quarter.

BA Coach Ralph Potter talks to his team after the regular-season victory over Baylor. Last night's loss prevented a semifinal rematch. (BHP file photo by Renee Yarbrough)

The Purple Wave used a diverse offense, including the wildcat for several plays, to burn time off the clock for most of the third quarter and push its lead to 28-7.

BA went long on first down, but Staver overthrew his receiver. Staver then connected with Thompson, who was laid out with a hard hit and fumbled, with CBHS recovering and returning it to the 5. Powell scored two plays later on a QB sneak, although the extra-point was missed.

Thompson was down for several minutes and precautions were taken when carrying him off the field, although his legs were moving immediately after the play. Thompson reportedly suffered a neck injury and was taken to a hospital across the street,  but was expected to be OK according to the BA broadcast team.

The Eagles didn't go down without a battle, as Wade cut it to 34-14 at 10:59 with the 71-yard TD. BA went for the onsides kick, and despite not getting it, forced CBHS to punt.

Freshman C.J. Sanders then returned the ball from the 10 to midfield, and Stavers found Sanders, tight end Graham Waldrop and Alexander on the drive. The 30-yard TD pass to Alexander pulled BA within 34-21 with 6:56 to play.

BA failed to recover an onsides kick again, and on first down the Purple Wave running back appeared stopped before breaking loose down to the 7. After a false start, the Eagle defense stopped the run and Akeel Anoor had a key pass break-up in the end zone, forcing a CBHS field goal for a 37-21 lead.

Again Brentwood Academy's offense went to work with the hurry-up, with Staver hitting Alexander for 16 yards, Sanders carrying for 9 yards and -- after a near-interception -- Alexander catching a 44-yard scoring strike to close within 37-27.

After needing to use a timeout, BA went for the two-point conversion but the pass was broken up.

BA tried again for an onsides kick and brought out both kickers -- Gus Wilson and Ben Boatwright -- but was penalized for having 12 men on the field and then couldn't hang onto the ball.

The Eagles held Christian Brothers to three-and-out, though, and went on a long drive from the 7 to the CBHS 29.

With less than four minutes remaining, Staver connected with Sanders, Alexander, Waldrop and 20 yards to Sanders after scrambling. But BA's hopes appeared dashed following three straight incompletions to turn the ball over on downs.

But the Purple Wave didn't run enough time off the clock, with BA Coach Ralph Potter calling timeout with 23 seconds left. CBHS gave the ball back with 20 seconds left, and Staver ran the ball to the CBHS 3 but couldn't get out of bounds.

The Eagles spiked the ball and then Staver found Alexander for their final scoring hookup and the 37-34 margin. Only three seconds stood, though, and BA again couldn't recover a squib kick.

If Baron's takeaway would have stood and a second added, BA could have tied the score with a field goal and forced OT in what would have been a miraculous comeback.

In the first half, Brentwood Academy fell behind 21-0 primarily on three big plays in the second quarter:  a third-down 33-yard touchdown pass at 9:46; a 65-yard quarterback scoring scamper at 2:36; and a blocked punt for a TD 1:59 before halftime.

The Eagles, however, got on the board only two plays later, when Wade took the first down 79 yards to the 1. He plunged in on the next play.

BA was able to stop Christian Brothers on the first drive of the second half after inserting injured Mr. Football finalist Baron on the defensive line. He forced back-to-back incompletions including a third-and-9 scramble when he and Amos Mason chased Powell and then another Eagle deflected the ball.

Brentwood Academy still couldn't get much offense going and then couldn't stop CBHS on the long 14-play scoring drive that took a lot of time off the clock and put the Purple Wave ahead 28-7.

The Eagles, who made the championship game in Potter's first two seasons, lost only to national power Louisville (Ky.) Trinity and to defending state champ Ensworth in the regular season. BA ended up in a three-way tie in the East/Middle region with Baylor and Ensworth, but dropped to third seed in tie-breaker procedures.