Curry’s late touchdown secures Guthrie’s 21-17 win

Last year it was Easu Paez. In 2001 and 2002 it was Russell Rush. And now in 2012 – it’s L’liot Curry.

Curry joined the group of BlueJays to score in the last moments in the Guthrie – Carl Albert rivalry series after hauling in a 12-yard game-winning touchdown pass to keep the top-ranked BlueJays unbeaten.

Guthrie (6-0, 3-0) had one final chance to rally for the victory trailing 17-14 and did so with a six-play 68 yard drive in just 1:25 with no time outs to work with.

On the winning drive, four-year starting quarterback Bryan Dutton delivered key passes to senior Cody Reihs and junior Donovan Jordan. Reihs hauled in catches of 17 and 13 yards and Jordan hauled in a 26-yard pass to get the ball down to the Carl Albert 12-yard line.

On second down and 10, offensive coordinator Scott Mick elected to put Curry in as the single side wide receiver for a fade pass. Dutton lifted the ball into the air for a fade pass to Curry, who stretched out with his back to the ball in the southwest corner of the end zone for the touchdown with :08 left in the game.

L’Liott Curry Post Game Interview | Bryan Dutton Post Game Interview | Rafe Watkins Post Game Interview | Guthrie Radio Game Highlights

Along with the game winning catch, Curry was stellar on the defensive side of the ball and was named the F&M Bank Player of the Game.

The heroic score kept numerous streaks alive for the Guthrie program, including 20 straight wins to tie a school record, 20 consecutive wins inside Jelsma Stadium (school record) and winners of 19 straight district games.

All the streaks appeared to be washed away after the Jays struggled offensively in the first half by allowing two Titan defensive scores in a span of 1:18 as Carl Albert returned a 27-yard fumble to the house and picked off a pass for a 46-yard score to go up 14-6.

In the game, the Jays committed four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles.

Guthrie was able to take advantage of a Carl Albert fumble in the first quarter when Dutton later hit Jordan for an 18-yard touchdown strike to go up 6-0 after failing on the point after.

Jordan finished with four catches for 81 yards while Reihs hauled in three catches for 30 yards.

After trailing for just the second time this season, Guthrie put together a crucial drive to tie the game just before the half expired. Again it was Jordan hauling in a 19-yard score as the BlueJays traveled 87 yards on seven plays in 1:44.

The drive was sparked by an unsportsmanlike penalty on Carl Albert and a double pass as Dutton tossed a screen pass to Reihs, who then tossed it down field to find Jordan.

In the third quarter, Guthrie was on an impressive drive by taking over six minutes and running the ball right at the Titans, but the drive stalled inside the 15-yard line and later a Luis Morales field goal was blocked.

Carl Albert (1-5, 0-3) then turned around did the same thing to the Jays with their running attack, but were able to capitalize with a season long 28-yard field goal by Blake Walker to give the Titans the three-point lead with 6:10 left in the game.

Guthrie was forced to punt the ball away as the game clock approached four minutes left in the game. The BlueJay defense forced the Titans to a crucial 3-and-out series by using two of their time-outs and forcing a punt.

On the punt, Guthrie was able to return it to around the Titans 30-yard line before being stripped and giving the ball right back to the Titans with just over three minutes to play in the game.

But again it was the Guthrie defense forcing the Carl Albert offense to go three-and-out and using their final time-out to stop the clock and force another punt. However, this time, the Jays had just 1:27 to work with on the clock at their own 32-yard line to set up the 68-yard game winning drive.

The Guthrie defense held the Titans to 126 yards of offense, incluiding 23 through the air, and just six first downs. Meanwhile, Guthrie collected 279 yards offense with 153 on the ground and 126 in the passing game.