Proffitt Kicked Through Drama
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
Mac Proffitt dismissed his pulled muscle pain, a first-attempt failure and the incredible final-second drama on Thursday night, as he kicked Westminster Christian Academy into possible league championship contention in the first game played at newly-remodeled Donald Gardner Stadium.
There was no doubt that Proffitt understood the impact of his 30-yard field goal which provided the final points in a 24-22 Westminster victory that ended a wild fourth-quarter as the Crusaders defeated Opelousas Catholic in a key District 5-1A game.
“I had just one job to do and in that situation everyone else on the field also has a job to do. I know for sure it’s my biggest kick ever, since it’s against the team down the street and the first game here on the new field,” Profitt said.
The decisive field goal certainly wasn’t an easy accomplishment.
Proffitt missed on a 35-yard attempt on the play before, but afterward the game officials penalized OCS five yards, providing Proffitt with another chance from a difficult angle near the right hash mark.
Physically Proffitt was also struggling with a kicking leg groin pull, but as the Crusaders pulled into position near the OCS goal line, he said it was time to cancel that distraction.
“As we got closer, I just tried to stay away from everyone else. When (OCS) called the timeouts before the first kick, I just blocked everything else out,” Proffitt added.
The win ended a chaotic fourth quarter which saw the teams score a combined 15 points during the final five minutes and five seconds.
WCA remains undefeated after six games and the OCS win provides the Crusaders with a 3-0 district record.
OCS is 4-2, with both losses occurring in 5-1A games.
“This is just a great win. It’s a rival game and it showed the incredible poise from our kids. We have talks about overcoming adversity all the time, and (on Thursday) we didn’t flinch. We had some big stops when we needed them.
“(Proffitt) is certainly a weapon. He hurt the groin in practice on Tuesday, so we wanted to get it in as close as possible,” said WCA head football coach Byron Porter.
However WCA had to contend with a furious OCS fourth quarter comeback after the Crusaders grabbed a 21-10 lead with 11:42 remaining on a 3-yard Stephen George run and a Proffitt extra point.
The Vikings ended a one-play, 73-yard possession when quarterback Kross Gillen connected with wide receiver Roderick Tezeno, who had 80 yards on four receptions.However the two-point extra point pass failed.
A three-and-out WCA possession afterward gained no yards and OCS jumped on the opportunity with a 59-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard Royce Butler touchdown run.
Again the two-point conversion pass failed and OCS trailed (22-21) with 1:31 left.
George subsequently maneuvered the Crusaders into field goal range with three runs totaling 16 yards on a possession that started at the WCA 48.
WCA led 7-0 in the first quarter following a Kyle Horde 83-yard TD run.
It was the first of two touchdown russ for Horde, who gained 151 yards on 16 carries.
Butler, who rushed for 157 on 24 carries, scored the first OC touchdown with 11:47 left before halftime. OCS placekicker Aiden Lafleur kicked an extra point and added a 34-yard second quarter field goal to give the Vikings a 10-7 lead at the intermission.
