Last-second heroics give Juan Diego win

SPRINGVILLE — Senior Marquis Wilson snagged a 27-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-11 with four seconds remaining to give Juan Diego a 28-26 victory over Manti in the 2A football semifinals Saturday.

"It went right in front of the sun. I couldn't see it until it eclipsed the sun," Wilson said of the pass from quarterback Mason Miller in the back right corner of the end zone. "I saw it, put my hands up, grabbed it, waited for (the official) to call it a touchdown, and he called it."

A 47-yard flanker pass from Wilson to John Soter set up Wilson's game-winning grab.

The Soaring Eagle appeared to have the game wrapped up until Templars QB Taylor Salanoa scored his fourth touchdown of the game (two rushing, two passing) on an 8-yard rush with 40.8 seconds left to put Manti ahead 26-21.

On its second possession, Juan Diego covered 56 yards for a TD. Quarterback Parker Tovey kept the ball on an option for a 16-yard rush, and Wilson's block on the perimeter sprang Zach Horrocks for a 17-yard gain on a pitch play. Tovey fumbled deep in Manti territory, but the Soaring Eagle recovered and scored on the very next play on Horrocks' 6-yard run over right tackle.

Manti answered right back with a TD of its own. A 15-yard catch by Jace Moore and a 10-yard reception by Devin Frischknecht got the Templars to the Juan Diego 7-yard line. Four consecutive quarterback dives by Salanoa finished the drive off. Wilson sacked Salanoa when Manti attempted a two-point conversion to keep the Eagle ahead 7-6.

Running back Trevon Murphy extended the Soaring Eagle's lead to 14-6 with a 4-yard touchdown run shortly before intermission.

Juan Diego switched quarterbacks at halftime, replacing Tovey with Miller.

Salanoa hit Frischknecht with 24-yard touchdown on a pump-fake, hitch-and-go down the right sideline on the opening drive of the second half. Another Frischknecht catch for a two-point conversion tied the score at 14-14.

Kyle Hatch caught a 65-yard touchdown pass that Salanoa threw between and just out of the reach of two Juan Diego defenders early in the fourth quarter for a 20-14 Manti lead.

Wilson caught an 11-yard pass on fourth down to keep alive a drive that ended with a 20-yard TD run by Murphy with 2:37 left in the game, putting the Soaring Eagle ahead 21-20 and setting the stage for the last-minute drama.