SMITHSBURG, Md. — Williamsport spent most of Thursday night chasing Smithsburg.
When the Wildcats finally caught the Leopards, they stayed even for only 11 seconds.
Luke Scott connected with Dakota Sowers for a 65-yard touchdown with 1:59 remaining, immediately after Williamsport had tied the game, and Smithsburg survived one final threat to pull out a 21-14 victory.
The Leopards improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2012, snapped a six-game losing streak against the Wildcats and avenged a 47-7 loss to Williamsport a year ago.
“They just kept fighting and fighting and fighting,” second-year Smithsburg coach Dave Lawrence said. “This is a huge win. I don’t think a lot of people gave us a chance tonight.
“To come out and see the growth and get a win like this against a super, super good team, this just means the world to me, and for the program and for Smithsburg.”
Taemyj Boyce-Brown’s 5-yard touchdown run and conversion run pulled Williamsport even at 14-14 with 2:10 remaining.
On Smithsburg’s next play from scrimmage, Scott found Sowers for the go-ahead score.
“There was a certain look that we were wanting to get, formation-wise, and they kept flipping their DBs and moving them around,” Lawrence said. “I think we finally got the look that we wanted. We know that Dakota, he’s just a weapon. He can run. He’s one of the few players we have that can match that team’s athleticism. He’s just got that ability.
“We got the right look, and coach made a great call.”
Williamsport wasn’t finished.
A facemask penalty on the ensuing kickoff return gave the Wildcats a first down at their own 47 with 1:53 remaining. They drove all the way to the Smithsburg 8, where they had first-and-goal with 37 seconds left.
But the Leopards wouldn’t give up another yard.
Nicolas Roncone tackled Boyce-Brown in the backfield on first down, and a Williamsport holding penalty on the next play pushed the Wildcats even farther back.
On fourth down from the 23, Boyce-Brown took a handoff and headed toward the right sideline looking to throw a halfback pass. Roncone got to him before he could release the ball, leaving 4.5 seconds on the clock.
“I just told the kids, ‘One play for the rest of your life,’” Lawrence said. “Honestly, we were in the huddle and they had run a similar play the previous week. … So we were kind of ready for it. I kind of thought it was coming, and I think it was Nicolas Roncone that made a hell of a play, and that pretty much ended it.”
Scott took a knee on the final play, completing a victory that was built as much on defense as offense.
Smithsburg scored twice on safeties in the first half.
Riley Carr tackled Williamsport quarterback Colten Hahn in the end zone with 6:47 left in the first quarter for a 2-0 lead.
Roncone’s 3-yard touchdown run and Walker Clark’s extra point made it 9-0 with 4:14 left in the quarter.
Boyce-Brown got Williamsport on the board with a 7-yard touchdown run with 6:12 left in the second quarter, cutting Smithsburg’s lead to 9-6.
The Leopards recorded their second safety with 50.6 seconds left in the half when Sergio Funes tackled Landen McAllister in the end zone.
Smithsburg wasn’t done. Clark kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Leopards into halftime with a 14-6 lead.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, when Funes helped preserve Smithsburg’s advantage with an interception at the Leopards’ 24.
Williamsport eventually erased the eight-point deficit in the final minutes, only to watch Smithsburg immediately reclaim the lead and then hold on at the other end.
“It’s tough, man, because to keep those kids bottled up — Boyce-Brown, he’s just so dynamic,” Lawrence said. “He just played his tail off the whole night. It’s just hard to keep them corralled because there’s just so much speed and athleticism.
“But, man, all the credit goes to the kids and my coaching staff. They just work. It’s just one of them wins that reminds you why you do this.”
