Oilers mount big comeback to stun NEL Trojans, 43-28

By By Jeff Byrd/staff writer
August 31, 2002
Forty straight points, including 26 in the final quarter, lifted Heidelberg past Northeast Lauderdale 43-28 in the season-opening game for both teams on Friday night.
At one point in the second quarter, visiting Heidelberg trailed 28-3. That's when third-year starting quarterback Michael Johnson began the Oilers' comeback taking an option run 50 yards for a touchdown.
The Oilers scored again right before the half to make it 28-17. It stayed that way until the fourth quarter. That's until Johnson shocked the Trojans again with his wheels.
Facing a third-and-three at its own 40, Johnson again got around the Trojans end and sped nearly untouched for a 60-yard touchdown on the second play of the fourth quarter. The try for two failed leaving the score at 28-23 with 10:58 to play.
It would take just 10 seconds for the Oilers to take the lead back for good. Northeast took possession at its own 27. The Trojans tried a reverse which had worked for a first down. This time, the exchange was botched.
With the ball loose, Heidelberg's Christopher Thompson scooped it up and barreled 15 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Johnson added the PAT kick for a 30-28 lead with 10:48 remaining.
Now trailing for the first time since a 3-0 deficit early in the game, the Trojans tried to pass. The first attempt resulted in a nine-yard loss. Back-up quarterback Maurice Langston came in and was promptly intercepted by Johnson who weaved his way 30 yards for the Oilers' second defensive touchdown in just over three minutes. Johnson's kick, his 25th point on the night, made it 37-28 with 7:10.
New Northeast head coach Steve Nelson said the Oilers' defensive touchdowns broke his team's back.
Third-year Heidelberg head coach Larry McGill says his team is turning a corner.
Heidelberg opened the game on a bang when Robert Sanders returned the opening kickoff 68 yards. The return would lead to a 23-yard field goal by Johnson that made it 3-0 with 8:45 to play.
Northeast would then reel off 28 straight points over the next 14 minutes. The last three scores were set up all by Oiler turnovers.
The Trojans went on top 8-3 following a 13-play, 60-yard drive capped by a one-yard TD run by Marcus Betts. Jason Pritchett passed to Josh Pearce on a broken kick conversion for two points with 2:15 left in the quarter.
A bad option pitch by the Oilers set up the Trojans at the Heidelberg 45. They covered 41 yards in 10 plays getting a 2-yard TD run from Betts. Hector Rodriguez booted the PAT to boost the Trojans lead to 15-3 with 7:47 left in the half.
A fumble recovery by Northeast's Maurice Carlisle led to a 32-yard scoring drive. Dontray Walker bolted in from 13 yards for the score. Rodriguez' kick made it 22-3 with 6:04 left in the half.
Nineteen seconds later, Northeast was back in the endzone following a 30-yard interception return. The PAT failed leaving the score at 28-3 with 6:04 left.
Johnson's 50-yard TD run and Raphael Jones had a two-point run to make it 28-11 with 5:18 left in the half.
On Northeast's next possession, Rod Smith was intercepted by Douglas Ryan after trying to hit a fade route. The Oilers moved 57 yards in less than two minutes. A 35-yard Johnson pass to Cornelius Russell set up a four-yard TD run by Thompson that made it 28-17.
The Oilers final touchdown came on a 17-yard run by Thompson with 2:39 left that accounted for the 43-28 final.
Johnson finished with 152 yards rushing and 68 passing off 4-of-7 passing. Thompson had 59 yards rushing off 11 carries. The Oilers had 324 yards in total offense.
Northeast got 95 yards from Betts off 18 carries. Pearce had 30 yards off eight carries. The Trojans return to action against rival Southeast next week.