Mandeville overcomes adversity to take down Alexandria

Good preparation, good performance, good defense and good fortune will virtually always result in victory.

For Mandeville, that was the case Friday night at Sid Theriot Stadium.

Alexandria’s Abel Peterman missed a 24-yard field goal wide left with 1 second left in the game as the 19th-seeded Skippers pulled a 13-12 upset victory over the third-seeded Trojans.

Jack Henderson scored a pair of touchdowns for Mandeville, including what proved to be the game-winner with 4:32 left to play in the game.

Things did not start well for the Skippers.

Alexandria led 5-0 at halftime on a field goal by Peterman and a safety after a bad snap on a punt went out of the end zone.

Still, Mandeville (9-3) stayed close, thanks to a stout defensive effort.

The Trojans (10-2) took the second half kickoff and scored to increase the lead to 12-0 and things looked bleak for the Skippers but Mandeville then seized the moment.

Henderson, playing quarterback for the injured Devon Tott, scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to cut the deficit to 12-7, setting the stage for Henderson’s game-winning score. Tott suffered an ankle sprain, a lingering injury. Henderson finished 24 carries for 133 yards and two scores.

Speaking on The 3 Tailgaters Show on 106.1 FM NASH ICON Saturday morning, Mandeville coach Hutch Gonzales praised his defense and the poise of his team.

“Our defense has been phenomenal all year,” Gonzales said. “When we have needed them to make a play, they have done so. To go in at halftime only down 5-0 was important to be within just one score. Our kids are laid back and do not panic much. They came out and performed in the second half.”

Mandeville overcame the adversity of losing Tott.

“Everybody knows what we have been for the duration off the season with the Devon Tott to Will Sheppard show,” Gonzales said. “When one goes down, you either panic or you go to your horse. Henderson is a different kind of animal. He is big, fast and strong. To put the ball in his hands directly was comforting. The offensive line stepped up and Jack is an absolute warrior.”

“It was a strange situation, the most intense I’ve ever been in as a coach as a second round playoff game,” Gonzales said. “We know they have a solid kicker. When they got down there, we knew they would call timeout. We wanted Sheppard standing over the ball. If we just put him there, maybe it would be enough of a distraction. Will jumped up and down.”

Then came the kick.

“When he hit the kick, he hit it bad. He just didn’t hit it well, pulling it left.” Gonzales said .”I could see the reaction of our fans. They went nuts. It went from a very intense feeling to so much elation that I just took off running. I really just wanted to get away from everybody.”

Mandeville advances to play at No. 11 Haughton in the quarterfinals.

“The opportunity to play in the quarterfinals in year two is amazing,” Gonzales said. “We feel right now we are ahead of the curve. The team that we have right now, we’ve really been better on the road when it is family time. We have a long road trip but the longer the haul, the better. We know Haughton is extremely talented with play-makers. Hopefully, we can get back to our high scoring ways.”