Late Chiefs rally misses the mark in three-point loss at Haughton
By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
HAUGHTON – A furious Natchitoches Central rally appeared like it'd bear fruit Friday as the Chiefs looked like they would score their second touchdown in the final three minutes to overcome Haughton.
Down by 10, NCHS scored a touchdown with 2:27 left, recovered the onside kick and set up shop inside the 5-yard line with about a minute remaining.
But Haughton tackled NCHS quarterback Owen Smith for a big loss on second down and knocked away a third-down pass to force a short field goal attempt.
Kicker Mateo Restrepo, who was playing in his first game after suffering an injury in the season opener, narrowly missed as Haughton held on for the 28-25 victory.
It was the second time the Chiefs got inside the Bucs' 10 but failed to score after halftime.
In a battle of teams seeking their first District 1-5A win, Haughton (2-3, 1-3) defended its home turf as NCHS (1-4, 0-4) lost its fourth straight.
Smith sparked the comeback attempt, leading the Chiefs on an 85-yard drive capped by a 20-yard touchdown to Derrian Anthony, his first career touchdown. Restrepo added the extra point, NCHS's first successful point after of the day following a failed attempt earlier in the game, to cut Haughton's edge to three points.
After Restrepo recovered his own well-executed onside kick, receiver Mason Britain caught a 30-yard pass to get the Chiefs around the 5-yard line with about a minute remaining.
"Owen made plays with his arm and his feet, and we had guys step up and make plays to put us in the position at the end," said NCHS coach Brad Laird. "Mateo had a great onside kick to get that ball back, but the big loss on second and goal put us in a situation for a tying field goal, and we didn't make it happen.
"But looking back over the entire game, we were never able to sustain momentum. Haughton would score, and we would respond, but we never could keep that momentum going."
It's a comeback attempt that almost never was as Haughton appeared to score a game-sealing touchdown that would have pushed its 28-18 edge to three scores, but a penalty wiped out the points.
NCHS's defense made a fourth-down stand, which led to the 85-yard drive.
Laird said Haughton's overall success on fourth down, which included stopping NCHS on fourth-and-one inside the 5-yard line in the third quarter, was a difference maker.
"Converting fourth downs allowed Haughton to keep more of the momentum throughout the game, and we missed a couple that hurt," Laird said.
Smith made big plays with his arm and his legs throughout the night, finishing with 258 passing yards on 12-of-22 aim and three touchdowns along with 43 rushing yards and a score.
The Chiefs established a sorely needed rushing game with 154 yards (5.5 yards per carry), including NCHS's first 100-yard rusher of the season. Kelton Howard gained 123 yards on 16 runs. Howard added a receiving touchdown and finished with 61 yards on two catches.
But mistakes at inopportune times torpedoed NCHS with the most glaring occurring late in the first half.
A Chiefs fumble around their own 30-yard line with less than a minute to go set the stage for a 3-yard Jakobe Delaney touchdown to boost Haughton's lead to 21-12.
Smith sliced into Haughton's edge himself with a 27-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to bring NCHS to 21-18.
Haughton quarterback Taylor Weathersby proved his dual threat capability as well, scoring on a 25-yard run to push Haughton's edge to 28-18 midway through the third quarter.
Weathersby threw for 167 yards on 12-of-24 passing and added 94 yards on the ground.
Haughton had a 100-yard rusher of its own in Brandon Craig (164 yards) as the Bucs rolled up 294 rushing yards total.
NCHS's road doesn't get any easier as the Chiefs bring in reigning Division II Non-Select champion Opelousas (but just 1-3 this season) this week with trips to Byrd and Airline looming after that.
