Nahun Lalin kicked a 24-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining to give John F. Kennedy a 31-29 win over St. Amant in a nondistrict thriller Thursday night at the Pit in St. Amant.
The game-winning kick was set up by an 86-yard pass from Amyne Darensbourg to James Evans on a third-and-13 play with 1:30 remaining. Kennedy (3-0) then ran three plays to the middle of the field to set up Lalin’s game-winner.
It was the capper to a spectacular night for Darensbourg, who rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown and passed for 233 yards and two scores.
St. Amant (0-2) had come from 14 down in the fourth quarter to take the lead.
Down by seven and facing fourth and 6 from the Cougars 10, Cooper Babin was rushed and threw a short pass to running back Connor Darr, who was wide open in the left flat and easily scored to bring the Gators to within 28-27 with 2:27 remaining.
St. Amant coach David Oliver decided to go for two to gain the lead and his gamble paid off.
Babin was rushed and had to retreat back to the 20-yard line. After scrambling around for several seconds, he hit Kaven Taylor who was streaking across the back of the end zone for the 2-point conversion and a 29-28 lead.
The Cougars took what seemed to be a safe 28-14 lead early in the fourth quarter when Darensbourg threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Strowder.
However, on the nexr drive the Gators converted on fourth and 12 when Babin threw a jump-ball that was caught by Taylor for 21 yards.
Carson Sheets scored two plays later to cut the deficit to seven, and an interception by Anden Millet on the following Kennedy drive set the stage for the frantic finish.
Big plays were also the story on both sides in the first quarter.
The Gators struck first on the third play of the game when Babin threw a deep pass down the right sideline that Timothy Johnson caught in stride two steps ahead of the defenders and raced 68 yards for the score.
Midway through the quarter, Darensbourg raced 96 yards for a score on a quarterback keeper around the right side that tied the game. He broke a couple of tackles near the line of scrimmage and easily sprinted past the remaining defenders.
The Gators answered quickly with another touchdown by Babin. Reid Mayers caught the pass in the right corner of the end for a 28-yard score.
The lead was short-lived.
Strowder returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to even the score at 14-14 after one quarter.
The second quarter was a marked contrast, as the defenses settled down and the offenses combined for four punts and a fumble to keep the score tied at halftime.
Kennedy won the game despite being penalized 17 times for 160 yards.