Nease Panthers win 4 OT Thriller

The Nease Panthers, last night, won an incredible game 49-48 over the Pace Patriots in 4 overtimes to advance to next Saturday's 4A Florida State Championship game. This is Nease's third consecutive State Championship appearance. They will play Booker T. Washington from Miami in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando next week for the title.Last nights game, though was truely one of the greatest games in high school football. With Nease up 22-7 going into the 4th quarter, Pace came roaring back to tie the score at 22 all. Then the Panthers drove 80 yards for a TD to put them ahead again. Right after that, though, Pace came back with a drive of their own and tied it again with a score of 29-29. At that point, both teams exchange possesions and the game went to overtime. In the 1st OT, both teams had to settle for field goals, as both Pace kicker Eric Martinez and Nease kicker Andrew Barker connected with their kicks. That made the score 32-32. In the 2nd OT, Nease quarterback Ted Stachitas completed a 10 yard TD to Patrick Barker, and Nease went ahead. Pace then needing to score, threw a 10 yard TD and tied it again at 39 all. The 3rd OT was the same as the 1st, as both teams connected on field goals. This brought the score to 42-42. In the fourth and final overtime, Ted Stachitas ran in from 10 yards to put the Panthers up 49-42. Pace, then, needed to score. Pace quarterback Aaron Munoz rolled to his right and completed a TD to wide receiver Riley Hawkins. So Pace just needed the extra poiunt to tie it up, but Eric Martinez missed it wide right and the Panthers won an incredible game. As the fans came on to the field, Nease rejoiced, as they knew they were going to their 3rd straight State Championship game.

Here is the Original Story from the Florida Times-Union:

Panthers leap Pace

Nease wins thriller, advances to its third consecutive state title game.

By STUART KORFHAGE, Morris News Service

The overtime periods just kept coming, but Nease wanted even more.

The Panthers (13-1) continued their season and advanced to the Class 4A championship game for the third consecutive season with a 49-48 victory over visiting Pace in four overtimes.

It nearly went five as Pace's Eric Martinez missed an extra-point kick that allowed Nease to celebrate another postseason victory.

"I've coached 35 years and I've never seen anything like it," Nease coach Craig Howard said. "Our guys kept finding ways to keep it alive."

Andrew Barker kicked three field goals in regulation and two in overtime. He also made two crucial extra points.

Ted Stachitas threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Barker and ran for a score in overtime. Stachitas finished 18-of-37 for 286 yards and two scores.

"It's great to win that way," Stachitas said. "The whole team didn't miss a beat in overtime."

Stachitas and the effort of his teammates almost wasn't enough to overcome Pace's Aaron Munoz and Riley Hawkins.

Munoz completed 24-of-37 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns. Hawkins had 12 catches for 255 yards.

Pace forced overtime with an amazing fourth-quarter comeback. Down 22-7 after three quarters, Pace scored 22 points in the final 12 minutes.

Munoz threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Seth Fricks with 10:11 showing on the clock to make it 22-14.

Airi Johnson's 5-yard run made it a two-point game after Pace's James McGreevy picked off a Stachitas pass and returned it to the Nease 15. Hawkins' catch on the two-point conversion tied the score at 22-all with 8:35 to go.

The Panthers went back in front on Patrick Barker's 23-yard touchdown reception with 6:34 remaining.

But Pace came right back, driving 80 yards on 10 plays to tie the score at 29 with 2:51 left. Munoz threw a 15-yard scoring pass to Tyler Hunt.

Both teams had the chance to win in regulation, but neither threatened.

Although Nease scored first, it was a short lead.

Following Barker's first field goal, Munoz found a wide-open Hawkins for an 80-yard touchdown on a play-action pass.

Nease regained the advantage with Hunter Bates' 3-yard scoring run early in the second quarter. An important missed extra point left Nease ahead 9-7.

The Panthers tried an onside kick, but the Patriots recovered and looked to take the lead right back. Hawkins pulled in another long pass from Munoz inside the 10-yard line.

However, he was hit and lost the ball. Graham Bates picked it up at the 5 and returned it to the Pace 9-yard line.

A touchdown run by Stachitas was negated by a penalty, and the Panthers ended up with no points on the drive.