Abbeville almost spoils Ascension's homecoming

YOUNGSVILLE  - The Abbeville Wildcats almost spoiled Ascension Episcopal’s homecoming on Friday. 
The Wildcats ran out of time and lost 39-34 in a shootout.
Abbeville racked up 485 yards, including 308 in the air.
AHS had a chance to win the game in the final 90 seconds, down by five points.
The Wildcats began what could have been the game-winning drive at midfield under the command of quarterback Dazavien Maze, who played most of the second half at quarterback.
Maze led AHS down to the Ascension 28-yard line with no time-outs and only two seconds left on the clock.
On the final play of the game, Maze tossed the ball in the left corner of the end zone, where Jacolby Campbell jumped up for the ball. The football hit his hands, but then an Ascension defender hit him at the same time, knocking the ball out of his hands.
Campbell remained on his knees for 15 minutes, trying to recover from the hit.
“We had to hurry and march down the field with no time outs,” said AHS head coach Joanthan Zenon. “With two seconds left, we had to take a chance at the end zone.”
Zenon declined to comment on a potential late hit on Campbell, instead choosing to commend his players for their improvement this week.
“Our guys paid more attention to details in practice this week, which helped us perform better,” said Zenon.
The Wildcats led from the first minute of the game until  late in the  end of the third period.
Abbeville went to the trick play book because on the first play from scrimmage, tailback Justin Montgomery took the handoff but then pitched it back to starting quarterback Kobe Vital. Vital launched it to Braylon Himel, who was sprinting down field. Himel caught at the 50-yard-line and outran the Ascension defenders. It was an 81 yard touchdown reception.
Twenty seconds into the game, Abbeville led 7-0 after Josh Clostio kicked the extra point.
Up 7-3 at the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats extended their lead to 14-3 on Vital’s 68-yard touchdown run and Clostio’s kick.
Abbeville led 21-3 with less than a minute to go in the first half, but Ascension scored with less than 30 seconds in the first half, to go into the locker room only down 21-9.
Abbeville (0-3) had outgained Ascension 332 yards to 180 yards in the first half.
“At the end of the half, we kind of slip and let them back in,” said Zenon. “We were to get back on the horse.”

The second half belonged to Ascension by scoring 21 straight points and taking a 32-28 lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Blue Gators’ lead was extended to 39-28 with 3:30 to play.
The Wildcats did not quit and battled back, marching 80 yards in just six plays. 
Maze played quarterback on the final drive. He connected with Campbell on three straight passes for a 17-yard gain.
 On third and seven from the Ascension 21, Maze found Campbell in the endzone, and just like that, Abbeville was back in the game, down 39-34.
The onside kick was unsuccessful, but the AHS defense stopped Ascension on four consecutive downs, forcing them to punt, and gave AHS the ball at midfield with 1:35 to play in the game.
Montgomery had 19 carries for 78 yards. Vital finished with 11 carries for 99 yards.
Receiving, Campbell had 11 catches for 99 yards.
Cameron Samuels had four for 71 yards and Chayson Gray had six catches for 45 yards.