Scott Central tumbles to Weir
By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
December 7, 2003
JACKSON Weir split end Keldrick Docher broke open a defensive battle with a 43-yard touchdown reception in the final minute against Scott Central to claim the Lions' sixth Class 1A state title.
With the game knotted at three, Docher caught a swing pass from Weir quarterback Larium Miller, took off down field and side=stepped a pair of defenders to lift the Lions to a 10-3 win over the Scott Central Rebels.
"The corners were playing kind of back, and I tried to get to the outside and had to cut back in," said Docher, who finished the game with 102 receiving yards and 16 rushing. "I have to give credit to my teammates. We all stuck together. We were 31 with one heart, and that is what it is all about."
The last-minute victory was in sharp contrast to how the season ended for Weir last season.
The Lions, who became the only program in the state to win six championship crowns in front of a crowd of 3,500, lost in the title game last year to Puckett when a two-point conversion attempt fell short in the final seconds.
"We had a great senior class last year, and they left their hearts out here on the field," said Weir coach Junior Graham. "It is real special for this group to win (the state title) and bring it back to Weir. If we hadn't lost last year, we may not have gotten down here this year."
Docher's catch-and-run score was one of the few offensive bright spots in a game dominated by defense.
Weir tallied just 193 yards of offense and accumulated six first downs in the win. Scott Central amassed 167 yards of offense and finished with eight first downs.
"(Scott Central) has a great defense, and our defense is not that bad," Graham said.
The strong leg of confident Scott Central kicker Ivan Mora Garcia provided the only points of the first half.
Garcia, who raised his right hand to show the No. 1 sign immediately after kicking the ball, connected on a 45-yard field goal with 8:02 left to play in the opening half to give the Rebels a 3-0 advantage at the break.
"I think when we get over the pain of losing, we will look back on the year and see all the great things we accomplished," said Scott Central coach Mickey Bounds.
The Rebels kicker's show of self-assurance on the kick was the brightest part of an otherwise rough half for both offenses.
Scott Central made only four first downs in the opening half, and the team compiled just 96 yards on offense.
Weir's offense fared even worse than its opponent gaining just 46 yards in the games first 24 minutes.
Lions kicker Jonathan Beard missed an opportunity to tie the game at three with 90 seconds left in the first half, as his 39-yard field goal attempt fell short.
Weir didn't gain a first down until there was less than eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, and the Lions finished the opening half with just two first downs.
Weir turned its offensive fortunes around at the start of the second half.
The Lions marched 46 yards down the field on the strength of two big catches from Docher.
The senior split end hauled in an 11-yard pass to give Weir its initial first down of the drive at its 44-yard line, and he dove for a 34-yard reception that brought the Lions down to the Rebels' 10.
Weir stalled after a diving catch and settled for a 33-yard field goal by Beard to tie the game at three, with 6:41 left to pay in the third.
"Everybody knew we had to come out and play ball in the second half," Docher said. "I have to give it up to the coaching staff, they are great coaches. We kept our eye on the prize, and we did it."
