WEST POINT — New Hope High School football coach Kris Pickle had a message for quarterback Stone Sisson.
Just before Sisson, who had thrown an interception on New Hope’s prior possession, took the field with his team trailing 15-14 with six minutes left in the Class 5A, Region 1 showdown against West Point, Pickle pulled the senior aside and imparted a few words of wisdom.
“My coach came up to me and said, ‘You can do this,’ ” Sisson said. “That gave me a boost, and I knew we were going to get the job done.”
Led by Sisson, New Hope engineered one of the most important drives of the season and marched 62 yards in 13 plays, and when junior tailback Brenton Spann sprinted into the end zone from 4 yards out with 27 seconds remaining, New Hope had a 20-15 win, a victory Pickle never doubted.
“I told these guys all week this was an opportunity,” said Pickle, whose team improved to 9-1 and 5-1 in Region 1. “We’ve been building this program and these guys have bought in to what we are doing. They believe in what we are doing. We needed a signature win, a win that would stamp us as a program. To come in here against West Point and beat a really good team, it’s just huge for us.”
With the win, New Hope wrapped up the No. 2 seed in Region 1 for the Class 5A playoffs and will play host to a playoff game Nov. 14.
After West Point took a 15-14 halftime lead, New Hope dominated every facet in the second half, outgaining West Point by 120 yards. The Trojans didn’t allow a first down in the second half.
Even though New Hope was in control on the field, it still trailed on the scoreboard, as West Point turned away consecutive drives with interceptions in the red zone. That set the stage for New Hope’s last chance, a drive that started at the Trojans’ 38-yard line and ended in raucous celebration.
“Our offense has made plays all year,” Pickle said. “West Point is so physical on defense, they make you earn everything. But our guys are so resilient. Eventually I knew we’d make that play.”
The drive, which took 5 minutes, 35 seconds, nearly ended before it started. Twice New Hope faced fourth downs with a shot at a home playoff game on the line, and twice the Trojans delivered. The first conversion came on a fourth-and-1 that resulted in a 2-yard run by Spann. The second conversion — a fourth-and-3 — saw Sisson connect with wide receiver Jeremy Newton for 8 yards.
Sisson connected with receiver Bryson Ellis for a 26-yard pass to set up first-and-goal. Spann did the rest, capping the comeback with the 4-yard run.
“I turned the corner and I saw the end zone, and that was an incredible feeling,” said Spann, who rushed for a game-high 127 yards on 23 carries. “It’s an honor to be a part of this team and to be able to score that touchdown. I’m just so blessed. It’s overwhelming for me to see how much God is blessing me and how much favor he has shown our team.”
Spann’s run set off a celebration on the New Hope sideline, as the reality that the Trojans’ first win against the Green Wave since 1998 was at hand.
In the middle of the celebration was Pickle, hugging everyone in sight. There was Spann, who couldn’t take his eyes of the scoreboard. In the middle of it all was Sisson, who couldn’t stop smiling.
“There’s so much credit that goes around,” Sisson said. “The line blocked well all night, the receivers made plays. (Spann) is just a phenomenal runner, and when I saw him round that corner, I knew we had it.
“But so much of the credit goes to coach Pickle. He made a huge impact on this game because of the impact he’s had on our program. When he got here, he said we were going to build something, and he was right.”
On the game-sealing drive, Sisson was 3 of 4 for 41 yards, while Spann rushed seven times for 13 yards, the final 4 yards being the most exciting.
“We knew they are a good team,” said West Point coach Chris Chambless, whose team fell to 7-4 and 4-2 in division play. “They got into a situation where they had to make a play to win the game, and they did. That’s what good teams do. I give their coaches and players all the credit in the world for coming in here tonight and doing what they had to do to win the game.”
New Hope used two first-half touchdowns from Sisson in the first half to get going. The defense answered the call in the second half, allowing 4 total yards of offense and no first downs.
“Our defense has been outstanding,” Pickle said. “They came up huge tonight.”
Senior tailback Kadarius Forside scored West Point’s opening touchdown, a 54-yard scamper. He added a two-point conversion run on West Point’s second score, a 17-yard pass from Dason Thomas to Steffon Moore, that gave the Green Wave a 15-14 cushion for much of the game.
The Trojans’ game-winning drive erased that cushion and, in the process, became a march that likely will live on in New Hope folklore.
“When we had to have it, these guys went out and got it,” Pickle said. “That’s the mark of a good football team.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brandon Walker on Twitter @BWonStateBeat
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