Arlington Seguin Clinches Playoff Spot with Dramatic Fake Punt

BREAKING: Arlington Seguin has secured a thrilling 23-22 victory over Mansfield Summit in a nail-biting playoff showdown held at Vernon Newsom Stadium on November 2, 2023. This win not only clinches the final playoff spot in District 3-5A Division II but also marks Seguin’s second consecutive playoff appearance in school history.

In a tense moment with just three minutes left on the clock, Seguin faced a critical 4th-and-7 from their own 43-yard line. Senior wide receiver Johnaven Polk, who showcased his versatility throughout the game, executed a 32-yard pass on a fake punt to secure the victory. “I had to do a little of everything, and our team is a monster that keeps fighting,” Polk stated after the game.

Head coach Joe Gordon made the decisive call for the fake punt, knowing the urgency of the situation. “I didn’t want them to have the ball with that much time left,” he emphasized. The victory propels the Cougars to a 7-3 record and the fourth seed in the playoffs, while Mansfield Summit, with a 6-4 record, misses the postseason for the second consecutive year.

The Cougars took control in the second half, turning an 8-8 halftime tie into a commanding 23-8 lead with two touchdown drives led by Polk’s Wildcat runs. He rushed for 24 yards on six carries and caught three passes for 30 yards. Summit’s senior quarterback Ian Gebhardt rallied his team, scoring on a 10-yard run to narrow the gap to 23-14 after returning from an injury.

Despite a valiant effort by Summit, including a late rally that brought them as close as the Seguin 36-yard line, their final possession ended in an incompletion in the end zone. Coach Channon Hall expressed pride in his team’s performance, noting, “I felt good about the way we were coming back in the second half.”

The game mirrored last year’s playoffs, where Seguin also triumphed over Summit. With this win, Seguin not only enhances their playoff history to nine appearances but continues to build momentum as they prepare for their upcoming playoff matchup.

As the playoff picture solidifies, all eyes will be on Seguin as they look to build on this hard-fought victory. Fans and players alike are eager to see how far the Cougars can go in the playoffs. Stay tuned for more updates as the postseason approaches!