| Wolves Defeat Madison Marlins 21 to 14
Text reprinted from the Houston Chronicle - Photos courtesy of WHS Athletic Booster Club
With time winding down in a tie ballgame, Westside receiver Alonzo Adams knew the ball was coming to him. With Madison defensive back Courtney Johnson covering tightly, it was simply a matter of who could come down with it. Westside quarterback Michael Goodnight rolled right, looked to Adams in the end zone and fired a 17-yard strike in his direction. Johnson, who was right under Adams, reached for the ball as did Adams. When the players came down it wasn't clear immediately who had it until the side judge raised his armsto signal a touchdown.
The Wolves' sideline breathed a sigh of relief and the Madison sideline erupted in anger but with 17 seconds left, that catch was the game-winner as Westside defeated the Marlins 21-17 on Friday at Butler Stadium.
Adams and Johnson fought for the ball and the senior receiver said he had to look at the referee to be sure he got the ball.
"I came down on my back," Adams said. "The ref came and signaled touchdown and I said 'Thank you' real quick."
The senior Johnson said he disagreed with the ref's call and that he intercepted the pass.
"I had it," the senior defensive back said. "I'm not a referee so I have to go by his call. The fans are pretty sure I had it and I'm pretty sure he knew I had it."
Adams responded by saying he had a little divine intervention.
"Thank you God," Adams said. "The ball was on my hip when I came down."
While there may have been controversy in the game-deciding play, there was no doubt that Westside's (5-1, 3-0 District 20-5A) passing offense was effective throughout the night as Michael Goodnight completed 14-of-28 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. Adams, No. 2 in the area in receptions coming into the game, was limited to three receptions for 40 yards but other receivers such as junior Michael Smith (six receptions, 90 yards) picked up the slack.
The Marlins (3-3, 2-0) who were leading 6-0 at the half, fell behind 7-6 after Michael Goodnight found running back Semaj Washington for a 29-yard touchdown with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter. They reclaimed the lead with 10:59 to go in the fourth as quarterback Jeffrey Lewis scored on a six-yard touchdown run to give the Marlins a 14-7 lead.
The Wolves responded immediately with a 13-play, 90-yard drive that ended in a one-yard quarterback sneak by Michael Goodnight (20 carries, 82 yards) to tie the game at 14. The Westside defense forced Madison to punt after five plays on its next drive, setting up the game-winning march with 1:54 remaining.
Michael Goodnight completed a 12-yard pass to Adams to start the drive then got help from a pass interference call on Madison to move the ball to the Wolves' 45.
Another strike from Michael Goodnight to Smith for 2 yards, a 6-yard run up the middle by Washington, and an 11-yard run by Michael Goodnight set up the final play.
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