Mills edges Pine Bluff in two overtimes, pair of fights mars game

Ricardo Gaytan’s 20-yard field goal in the second overtime lifted the Comets

PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS — Ricardo Gaytan’s 20-yard field goal in the second overtime lifted the Mills Comets (6-1, 4-1 5A-Central) to a 24-21 victory over the Pine Bluff Zebras (5-2, 4-1) at Jordan Stadium. 

Gaytan originally came on for a 25-yard field goal, but two offsides penalties by Pine Bluff pushed the ball to the 2-yard line setting up the winning kick.

Pine Bluff had a 3-yard touchdown run by Austyn Dendy in the second overtime wiped out by a holding penalty. Charleston Colins sacked Pine Bluff quarterback for a 10-yard loss and Landon Holcomb threw incomplete to Courtney Crutchfield on fourth and 27.

Mills got the ball in the first time and Zion Smith went up the middle on third down for a 2-yard run. Gaytan’s kick made it 21-14. Pine Bluff answered on a 4-yard run by Austyn Dendy for his second touchdown of the game. Maclin Hesier’s kick sent the game into a second overtime

The game was sent into overtime when Mills’ Achilles Ringo threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kammarion Ferguson with 2:08 left. After a dead-ball, unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty pushed the Comets back 15 yards on the extra point, Gaytan nailed it to tie the game at 14-14.

The Zebras had a chance to win it when Marquez Bentley went around the right end for a 57-yard touchdown run with 1:35 left, but a holding penalty wiped it out and the Zebras were forced to punt with 29 seconds left. Mills took a knee from its 30-yard line to send the game to overtime.

The end of the game was marred by a pair of fights between both squads after it was over.

3 Takeways 

(1)

The end of the game was marred by a pair of fights. One took place on the Pine Bluff sideline, and another was sparked by the Mills locker room when both teams were going through the handshake line. After addressing his team on the field, Mills head coach Cortea Lee quickly told his team to get into the locker room. Members of the media were barred from coming in to talk to players as the Comets were told to stay in the locker room until it was time to board the buses which were located outside the locker room. Police and security were lined up outside the Mills locker room.

Lee, who declined to be interviewed on camera, explained how the confrontation on the field bregan. “There were a lot of emotions when we were shaking hands, “After the game was over with, there were a lot of emotions back and forth, and I can’t pinpoint anything. It was a close game, and there were a lot of emotions going on and one thing led to another and there was a fight.”

Pine Bluff head coach Michael Williams said he didn’t see how the confrontations began.

“I couldn’t see exactly what happened, and it doesn’t matter what happened. We’ve got to make sure we control ourselves and our sideline.” Williams said he didn’t anticipate any suspensions whether by the school district or the Arkansas Activities Association but would be ready to deal with anything that gets handed down. 

(2)

The matchup featured two future Arkansas Razorback commits in Pine Bluff wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield and Mills’ defensive end Charleston Collins. The two players, who are cousins, had their moments in the game. Crutchfield caught 4 passes for 47 yards including a 27-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter which put the Zebras ahead 7-0. He also returned 2 kickoffs for 44 yards.

Crutchfield was not in much of a mood to talk about his performance. “To be honest, there was lot of adversity. We had to overcome a lot tonight and we have to get back to work,” he said. “That was my favorite play (referring to the touchdown) They kept someone over the top against me all night. “

Collins, who grew up in Pine Bluff, came up with a big pass rush when he hurried Landon Holcomb into an incomplete pass on fourth and 16 from the Comets’ 21 with 8:19 left in the second quarter. He came up with the big sack on Holcomb in overtime forcing fourth and 27.

“Charlie Collins made some big plays tonight,” said Lee. “He came up with a big-time sack.”

(3)

The unsung hero was Mills placekicker Ricardo Gaytan. He made all three of his extra points. The second one was big given that the Comets were penalized 15 yards for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that pushed his kick back to 34 yards that allowed the Comets to tie the game at 14 with 2:08 left. He made the 20-yard field goal to win the game.

“He made some big kicks for us tonight,” said Lee. “I’m proud of him.”

--Jeff Halpern

Photos by Tommy Land

Tommy Land, SBLive Sports