Looking through my camera lens, I hear head coach Tommy Bobo erupt, yelling for Quarterback Ryan Johnsen to “hit Jack in the post.” I find WR Jack Sanford with my camera and follow him. Seconds later, he’s in the end zone, football in hand. As the sideline bursts into clapping, yelling, and chest bumps, I felt that Sanford’s game-tying touchdown would serve as the climax of the game, as just over 1 minute remained for Landrum to do something. The Johnsen-Sanford TD, however, would be just one of many incredible moments in the final minutes of the Cavs’ 17-14 region win over Landrum.

Going into the game, juxtaposed with a cotton candy pink sunset was an intense, win-or-die attitude radiating from the sideline. A region win this week would propel Christ Church into serious playoff contention and give the Cavs strong momentum headed into their home rivalry matchup against St. Joes. The first half was a scrap, with Landrum holding an early 14-0 lead headed into halftime. The ferocity that the Cavs came out with in the 2nd half, however, made the efforts of the first half look small in comparison. A deep bomb to Arun Chandler, followed by the aforementioned Jack Sanford touchdown, sprung a 14-0 run that left the game tied at the end of regulation.

At the start of OT, Landrum’s offense set up on the 10 yard line, per SCHSL rules, and attempted to punch it in from “and-goal” territory. But the Cavs defense remained tough, pushing the Cardinals back to the 25 yard line before Harris Crawford came up with a goal line fumble on 4th down. Before the defense went out on the field, Coach Bobo promised that, when they made the stop, he would send out Sophomore kicker Mika Habel to knock down the 25 yard field goal. Sure enough, Habel trotted out, ice in his veins, and knocked down the game winner, sealing a wild OT win for the Cavs. The team looks to carry this momentum into next week against St. Joe’s, where they look to avenge last year’s defeat, as well as clinch a spot in the playoffs.

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