News-Record.com

I have covered many games in my young career, but I can't say I ever have seen a play like the one that ended the Southeast-Southern game tonight, a 33-yard touchdown pass in which Southeast quarterback Terrance Topps reversed fields three times before finding freshman Kir Turner in the end zone. It felt like it took five minutes or was some kind of video game play. Objectivity be damned, I let out a noise of surprise for that one. I wish I had access to the game tape right now because Southern's coaches were absolutely livid that Southeast didn't get called for illegal man/men downfield. I must admit my eyes were on Topps in the moment. Anyone who was there care to weigh in? Tell you what, Southeast coach Fritz Hessenthaler didn't seem too pleased with Southern coach Darryl Brown's demonstrative plea to the officials about it. "Nobody ever told me I could walk on the field when there were no timeouts," Hessenthaler said. "I was kind of concerned, to be honest with you. Maybe there's something in the rulebook I don't know about. Obviously there is because they didn't call a flag either time."

-Turner's big catch overshadowed a couple other remarkable plays. Southeast threatened to expand its lead just before halftime, but Nick Bell tipped a Kenyatta Robinson pass in the red zone and chased down the deflection for an interception. Robinson was in for a few plays while Topps had a cramp treated. In the third quarter, Topps launched another desperation heave to Anderson, who outjumped Darren Garcia and tipped it to himself for a 39-yard score. That's no small feat: Garcia was 2nd in the state last season with 10 interceptions. "I saw I had a height advantage, so I used it," Anderson said.

-Big win for Southeast, which can safely say it has recovered from its opening week hiccup at Eastern. Topps is a very good quarterback - mobile, poised and owner of one of the best arms I've seen this season. Northwest and Ragsdale the next two weeks will tell us how good the Falcons really are.

-Maybe it wasn’t designed as a cost-saver, but credit Southern for getting resourceful with its pre-game routine. Southeast celebrated the start of its home opener by bursting through a 10-foot tall paper banner and charging onto the field. As the crowd roared its approval, the Falcons cheerleaders scurried to pick up what remained of their art project. Southern celebrated the same ritual moments later, but its cheer team got off easy. The Storm’s banner was made of plastic, and it tore apart at a velcro seam down the middle. All the cheerleaders had to do was fold it up and store it away for next week. Al Gore would no doubt applaud such conservation, and in this economy, it can’t hurt to reuse your resources.

-Props to the Southeast fan - I'm trying to find his name - who won the 50-50 raffle tonight, then donated his share of the winnings - about $430 - to help the girls tennis team pay for its new ball machine.

-Props also to John Schweighart, Southeast's public address announcer, and his wingman, Mike Pusey, who offered the most hospitable press box I've ever worked in.

As for the rest of the oh, what a night:

-Round of applause to Ragsdale, which should officially change its mascot to the Little Engine That Could. The Tigers lost arguably their best player before the season and have been under duress in the final minutes of their last three games, yet they've gritted out three huge victories. They also put me in my place for looking ahead to what I though would be an undefeated Page-Dudley matchup next week. I got a voicemail from a Pirate alum today saying that Ragsdale "can only dream" of beating Page. She and I both deserve a pinch.

-No word yet how many players Grimsley was without tonight, but 32 points is still a lot for a team with such promise to be losing by. They are not a squad that is suited to play from behind - read: they have trouble throwing the ball - so they can't afford to be getting in such a hole. Open wound alert: They're at Ragsdale next week.

-Northwest did everything but give away its win to Northeast tonight. The Vikings led 22-0 at half and appeared on pace to cruise to a 3-1 record. Then Northeast scored, returned a blocked punt to the 2 and scored again, recovered two Northwest fumbles and drove them inside the red zone and had a potential game-tying touchdown called back on a holding penalty. "If a team comes out and plays bad, they're going to get waxed," Northwest head coach Joe Woodruff said. "We could easily be 1-3." Heck, Northeast would take that - the Rams are 0-3 for I believe the first time in Tommy Pursley's 16-year career. Guarantee you they're still going to win some games, though.

-I've heard some people call them a paper tiger, but there's really no way to knock Eastern Guilford after it handled Southeast, Northeast and now Western the last three weeks. That's three flawed but very good teams. Imagine if Eastern and Reidsville are both 7-0 heading into their game Oct. 17. It's not out of the question.

-Dudley beat Smith 36-0 tonight, and you're lying if you said you didn't see that coming. One interesting storyline, though: Dudley put its first-string defense back in the game for the final minute to preserve its shutout after Smith drove to the 12-yard line. What do you think - good motivational tactic or cruel and unusual punishment?