Johansen’s last-minute heroics lead Panthers to win
Kingwood Park finally caught its old coach.
Former Panthers coach Jim Holley led New Caney Porter to wins over Kingwood Park the last two years.
This time, quarterback Sam Johansen saved the Saturday
After throwing two interceptions early, he rallied the Panthers from a 17-point deficit, supplying three second-half rushing scores, including the game-winner with 29 seconds left in a 2827 win at Turner Stadium.
“That’s the mentality he brings, as a quarterback, and the leadership, and then down in there, we knew, just get it to him,” Kingwood Park coach Clayton Maple said.
The Panthers, coming off a loss to Barbers Hill, improved to 2-2 and 1-0 in District 9-5A, Div. I.
Porter dropped to 2-2, 0-1, but looked like it was on its way to three straight wins over Kingwood Park late in the fourth.
Jose Acosta’s 35-yard field goal — he also hit a 39yarder in the second quarter — gave the Spartans a 2721 lead, and the Panthers went three-and-out on their ensuing drive, leaving only 3:41 left on the clock.
Then the Spartans completed a first-down reception that likely would have allowed them to run out the clock.
But the play came back on offensive pass interference — and Kingwood Park took advantage. Johansen guided a 54yard drive that took only 1:36, capping it with his 1yard touchdown keeper on second-and-goal.
He scored on runs of 2 and 1 yard in the third quarter.
“It’s all heart, just a testament to our kids,” Maple said.
“Coach Holley has a fantastic football team. He’s got that program going in the right direction, and our guys showed up all week, work really hard, trusted their coaches, and trusted their teammates, more than anything else, and battled all the way down to the wire.”
Porter had one last shot at the win.
After Sevonne Rhea hauled in a Zane Russell pass, Acosta attempted a 46-yard field goal, but it sailed left with no time remaining, and the Panthers hung on for a pivotal win for their playoff hopes.
“We had some turnovers, we gave them short fields, stuff like that, but we felt like if we stuck with the plan, and didn’t panic, we’d be fine,” Maple said.
The Spartans converted consecutive turnovers by Kingwood Park into the game’s first 10 points.
Gage Royse provided the first one, intercepting Johansen and returning it 15 yards to the Kingwood Park 15. Three plays later, Russell, who went 21-of-26 passing for 242 yards with one passing touchdown, found Baron Bradley for a 10-yard score.
Then Zhyon Bell returned an interception 54 yards, setting up an Acosta field goal.
The Spartans extended their lead to 17-0 on Russell’s 27-yard touchdown run, which came after a 34yard run by Rhea.
But the Panthers dug deep when they needed to deliver.
Johansen directed a 12play, 68-yard drive that benefitted from a late hit against Porter, giving them first-and-goal at the 10. On the next play, Dalton Roger exploded up the middle for a touchdown.
Roger finished with 24 carries for 151 yards and one score.
Porter lost a fumble late in the first half but led 17-7 at halftime.
“Things happen in a ballgame,” Maple said. “There are highs and lows, especially when you play a good football team, and we never panicked, we never said ‘Oh my God,’ and tried to redo the gameplan.”