Northeast football falls in dramatic fashion to Southwind

Southwind's Cortarius Wilson found Jalen Alexander for 23-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone with 1:04 left to finish off a stunning come-from-behind victory, beating Northeast 35-28 Friday night in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Here are five big moments from the game.

Absent Eagle playmakers

Northeast High senior stars Quinton Cross and Gus Antoine did not play against Southwind Friday and neither player was present on the sidelilne.
Northeast coach Chad Watson would not say why they didn't play. But Watson was clear that their absence was felt.

"I'd be lying to you if I said not having them didn't hurt," Watson said. "We were certainly shorthanded and we tried to overcome it. I couldn't help the circumstance but our kids played their butts off and played as hard as they possibly could,"

Prior to the game, Watson would not address not having Cross and Antoine. 

"You'll have to talk with (Northeast) administration. It's out of my hands, Watson said.

Northeast principal Tavis Massey had no comment before the game.

A searing first half

Northeast looked like it wouldn't need Cross or Antoine after putting up 28 points on Southwind before the three-minute mark of the second quarter. Quarterback Heath Williams threw four touchdown passes and Chris Taylor caught two of them. Williams finished with 257 yards passing and also two interceptions.

Playcalling heaven

Northeast (7-4) was buoyed by a nearly flawless first-half scheme, and its playcalling took advantage of Southwind's aggressiveness. Williams found Devon Dillehay on a 65-yard touchdown pass in which Dillehay was completely wide open down the middle of the field.

And the Eagles coaching staff managed all of that after having to revamp its gameplan Friday afternoon after it was apparent Cross and Antoine would not play. 

The Eagles' passing was short, quick and deliberate, offsetting a defensive line from Southwind that would rise up in the second half, sacking Williams four times.

The pick-6

Southwind (8-3) opened the second half with a drive and a score to get within 28-21. Northeast's next possession ended in an interception as Southwind's Quentin Williams picked off Heath Williams and returned it 72 yards down his team's sideline to cut the score 28-27 with 6:23 left in the third quarter.

Defense rules

Southwind's defense gave up nearly 300 yards in the first half. Northeast had its way. But in the second half, the game changed drastically. Southwind stopped Northeast on four fourth-down plays in the second half as the Eagles played without tailback Tyrique Freeman, who rolled his ankle early in the third.

Southwind would outscore Northeast 22-0 in the second half.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.