Late TD boosts Watonga to comeback win over Crescent

The heartbreak continues for Crescent.

The Tigers led from early in the first quarter until the final seconds of the game Thursday at Watonga, but were dealt another late loss.

The Eagles’ Joe Jackson found Deondre Dunn for an 18-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left then the two connected on the two-point conversion.

That turned a six-point deficit into a 40-38 lead that would stick as Crescent’s last-ditch effort to score fell short.

The loss was Crescent’s third straight. The last two have come down to a last-minute play and the other was a one-score game late before a fumble turned the Tigers away.

Crescent is now 3-4 overall and 0-2 in District A-3.

Just like last week’s defeat against Minco, the Tigers took control of this contest early.

They had a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and still maintained a two-score lead in the third.

Tayon Johnson’s fourth touchdown run of the night, this one from 11 yards, gave Crescent a 32-18 advantage with 4:55 to play in the third.

The lead disappeared as Johnson scored on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter and then again from 3 yards out midway through the fourth.

His two-point pass to Chris Sanders tied the game with 6:21 left.

But Crescent was able to reclaim the lead with 1:36 to play when Kade Varner connected with Chism Watson for a 5-yard touchdown.

The Tigers’ two-point run was stopped short, putting the lead at six points and setting up the final frantic seconds by Watonga.

Crescent out-gained Watonga in the offensive slugfest, 422-406.

Varner had his best night of the season through the air as he was 11 of 17 for 167 yards and the score.

He added another 73 yards on 15 rush attempts.

Johnson led a fourpronged Tiger run game with 76 yards on 15 carries.

He had TD runs of 3 and 18 yards in the first quarter as Crescent took the early14-0 lead.

After Watonga cut it to 14-6, Tanner Rice’s 8-yard touchdown run at 8:15 of the second quarter made it 20-6 Crescent.

Rice had 23 yards on eight carries while Luke Descher ran for 39 on his 10 attempts.

Crescent led 20-12 at halftime.

The Tigers struggled to contain Joe Johnson as he was 8 of 12 for 207 yards and three touchdowns and added another 136 rushing yards.

Rice had five catches for 59 yards to lead the Tigers.

He also had three tackles and an interception on defense.

Descher led that unit with 10 tackles.