By Joey Grappe
North Caddo kicked off their season at home against the Homer Pelicans, taking the game 26-25.
On their first possession KJ Black took the ball 43 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. On their next possession Juvontavious Hodge connected with wide receiver Omarion Miller for a 50 yard touchdown pass putting North Caddo ahead of the Pelicans 12-0 early in the game. The Pelican defense denied the North Caddo offense entry into the end zone for the rest of the first half, however, answering the two North Caddo touchdowns with their own plus an extra point. At the half the Pelicans lead the 13-12. North Caddo would take the lead late in the third with a 2 yard TD run from KJ Black and a 2 point conversion, Hodge to Miller.
The score remained 20-13 North Caddo until the Pelicans scored with 4:54 to go in the game. North Caddo blocked the extra point attempt that would tie the game hanging on to a one point lead. The score was 20-19 and North Caddo found themselves defending their end zone from a game winning touchdown. With 33 seconds left in the game the Pelicans found the end zone for their fourth TD of the night. After a failed extra point attempt the Pelicans lead the North Caddo with 23 seconds to go in the game.
With 23 seconds to go in the game, North Caddo would begin on their own 45 yard line. Hodge dropped back and connected once again with the LSU commit, Omarion Miller who took the ball down the the Pelican 4 yard line. There was 10 seconds on the clock. An incomplete pass took the clock down to 6 seconds. The next play Hodge handed off the KJ Black and he was stacked up in the backfield. North Caddo called timeout with 1 second on the clock.
North Caddo needed a miracle, or maybe they just needed a group of players who don’t know what the word “quit” means. Hodge takes the snap and time expires. He fakes the handoff and rolls out to the left. As he turned he was met by a host of Pelicans. Standing alone in the corner of the end zone KJ Black waved his hands and watched as the Pelican defense wrestled with hodge pushing past the 20 yard line.
Just when you thought the game was over, Hodge breaks free, turns around and throws the game winning TD pass to KJ Black. North Caddo defeated the Pelicans on the last play of the game.
North Caddo travels to face North Webster next week.