Rosepine wins overtime thriller, 43-42
Published 9:41 am Saturday, November 20, 2021
- Rosepine wide receiver Isaiah Stinson (3) hauls in a pass from Ethan Frey during second-half action in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs last Friday. Stinson and the Eagles defeated the Red River Bulldogs in double overtime, 43-42, advancing to the state quarterfinals for the first time in school history. (Photo Courtesy of McKaya Fernandez)
By Daniel Green
ROSEPINE — When it came time for a game-winning play, Rosepine head coach Brad Ducote knew exactly who he was going with.
And that player was the 6-4, 225-pound quarterback Ethan Frey.
Frey, who accounted for five rushing TDs, scored on a two-point conversion off the quarterback bootleg in the second overtime, lifting Rosepine to a 43-42 win over Red River on Friday night at McKee-McCain Stadium.
“I visualized this play back in August,” Ducote said. “I knew when Red River scored and kicked the extra point, we would run that play if we scored. And the kids just executed it to perfection.”
With the game knotted at 35-35 going into the second overtime, it took Red River (8-4) three plays to score, getting a 6-yard TD pass from Tre Smith to Antron Williams for the go-ahead TD. Red River opted to kick the PAT with Ryder Hogan, taking a 42-35 lead.
Rosepine took over and immediately got help with a pass interference penalty on Red River. After an incomplete pass, Frey scored from the 5, allowing the Eagles to close within a point.
After a couple of timeouts, Rosepine lined up in its jumbo package with two fullbacks and leading rusher Grant Ducote deep off the ball.
Frey faked the handoff to Ducote and rolled left. Seeing a seam, Frey darted toward the endzone, pushing Rosepine (11-1) to the victory and first quarterfinal appearance in school history.
“I’m super proud of these guys,” Brad Ducote said. “They deserved to make history and I couldn’t be more proud. Ethan just had a great night and he put us on his back and carried us.”
Frey rushed for 162 yards and five touchdowns, while completing 13-of-18 passes for 116 more yards.
Grant Ducote added 68 yards on 19 carries, while Isaiah Stinson had eight catches for 67 yards.
Smith was 12-of-24 for 134 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for two scores. Running back Stanley Maxie logged 30 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
