Last-second score helps Reedy beat Frisco Heritage, win district title

FRISCO, Texas — The Frisco Reedy Lions hadn't won a district title on the gridiron in four years going into their final game of the regular season, a district duel against the Frisco Heritage Coyotes. 

Carrying an unblemished 9-0 record into their district finale Thursday night, all the Lions needed to do was win once more to secure the District 6-5A DI title and a perfect regular-season finish.

On the other hand, a Heritage win would have created a three-way tie for first place in the 6-5A DI standings and the district's number one playoff seed with a week remaining in district play.

With a little less than 2 minutes left during the fourth quarter, the Coyotes appeared poised to pull off a narrow victory. After coughing up a late fumble in their own territory, the Coyotes' defense forced Frisco Reedy to turn the ball over on downs at Heritage's 11-yard line after getting a crucial stop on 4th-and-6 . 

But a last-minute miracle helped the Lions turn the tables during the waning moments of game time and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

On fourth down for Frisco Heritage with 23 seconds remaining, Reedy senior defensive back Josef Fuksa raced around the edge of the Coyotes' offensive line and got a hand out in time to block a Heritage punt.

Fuksa fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a spectacular score with seconds remaining, as his game-winning special teams touchdown sealed a 32-31 shootout win for Frisco Reedy over Heritage on Thursday at The Star.

The Lions improved to 10-0 overall with the victory, becoming one of the state's first teams to complete a perfect run through their regular-season slate, and claimed the District 6-5A DI crown outright.

“Crazy ballgame,” Frisco Reedy head football coach Chad Cole said. 

“They came out very intense. What a great club, coach [Kenneth] Gilchrist and those guys. Some nights you’d rather be lucky than good. We got lucky tonight, because they gave us all that we needed and wanted so, great job by them. Our kids just found and they’ve done that all year. So, very very proud of how we finished.”

Reedy started the game off with a score on the opening drive when Dennis Moody carried it up the middle from 5-yards out to give the Lions a quick 7-0 lead.

Moody finished the night with 97 yards on 22 carries and 2 touchdowns, adding 46 yards on 3 receptions.

Heritage responded on the ensuing drive with a 27-yard field goal by Hector Santana to make it 7-3.

The Coyotes forced a Reedy punt on the next drive, but the Lions were able to down the ball at the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Luca Akirtava brought down the Heritage runner in the end zone for a safety, making the score 9-3.

Then, after forcing a fumble, the Coyotes went on a drive behind Devan Calvin, who drove his offense to the Reedy 1-yard line before capping off the drive himself on an option keeper. The Coyotes led after one quarter by a score of 10-9.

Calvin completed 12 of 26 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown through the air, as well as 16 rushing yards and a pair of touchdown runs.

On the opening drive of the second quarter, Devin Hardy (10 carries, 43 yards, rushing TD) got his name on the scoresheet for Reedy with a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Lions back in front.

Heritage was forced into a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, and Reedy capitalized with a 21-yard field goal by Jackson Runyan to bring the score to 19-10.

However, the Coyotes had a response before the break. Calvin went right back to work driving well into Lion territory before finishing things himself with an 11-yard keeper to make it 19-17 going into the half.

Despite pulling closer before the half, the Coyotes could not make anything of the opening drive of the second half. Reedy took complete advantage by driving to the Heritage 7-yard line before Moody finished the drive with an easy run up the middle.

Neither team could find the end zone for the remainder of the quarter, and the game entered the final frame 26-17 in favor of Reedy.

However, just before the third quarter ended, Diego Gonzales came up with a big interception to give the Coyotes some life. Three plays later, in the fourth quarter, Nick Clark broke free and pulled Heritage back to within two.

The Coyotes' defense then made a big defense and set up Calvin to throw the go ahead touchdown to Houston Brookshire on a 32-yard post route, putting Heritage up 31-26.

From there, complete chaos ensued. 

Reedy was forced to punt, giving Heritage a chance to take a commanding lead. However, a screen pass was fumbled and the Lions took over deep in Coyote territory.

Despite the golden opportunity, Reedy ended up failing on fourth down and gave the ball back to Heritage at the 11-yard line. Both teams drained the remainder of their timeouts over the next three plays, and the Coyotes were set to punt the ball away with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Then, Reedy got a miracle. Josef Fuksa broke through the line and blocked the punt for the Lions. He proceeded to pick the ball up at the five-yard line and stroll in for the touchdown, putting Reedy ahead for good.

Heritage could not do anything with the remaining 23 seconds and Reedy hung on for the 32-31 win to cap off the perfect regular season after ten consecutive weeks of games.

Cole commented on having the bye in the final week of the season after ten straight weeks of games: “Yeah, I didn’t like it when the schedule came out. But as it sits now, it’s the perfect timing. So we can recharge and get ready for a push.”

Frisco Reedy (10-0, 8-0) will have a bye week while waiting to find out who its opponent will be in the bi-district round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs.

The Lions are likely to face Dallas White, Carrollton Smith or Dallas Adams as the fourth seed emerging from District 5-5A DI pending Week 10 and 11 results.

Frisco Heritage (6-3, 5-2) will try to bounce back in the Coyotes' regular-season finale against the Frisco Lone Star Rangers (6-2, 4-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at Kuykendall Stadium in Frisco.

Check out SBLive's exclusive photo gallery from the game:

PHOTO GALLERY — FRISCO REEDY 32, FRISCO HERITAGE 31

All photos by Brian McLean