Sundevils win state title with Hail Mary

Chas. Collegiate 28, Colleton Prep 27

Chas. Collegiate 28, Colleton Prep 27

ORANGEBURG — Facing a critical fourth-and-6 from their own 39-yard line, Charleston Collegiate receiver Anthony Lax hauled in Andrew Horne's desperation loft, which tipped off of the hands of Colleton Prep defensive back Jonathan Hill, broke two tackles and streaked 61 yards for the state championship-winning touchdown in the Sundevils' 28-27 victory over Colleton Prep in the SCISA Class A state title game.

After the miraculous score, C. Eric Holiday converted the extra point to give Charleston Collegiate the lead with 52.6 seconds remaining, a lead the Sundevils would not relinquish on the way to the school's first state championship.

"That was all determination to get that ball

into the end zone," said Charleston Collegiate head coach Kirk Lax. "That was awesome. He stepped up."

But the War Hawks weren't done, as Colleton Prep drove to the Sundevils' 30 with seven seconds remaining. Neither was Anthony Lax. He sacked Colleton Prep quarterback Blake Zemp on the Charleston Collegiate 35 as time expired to set off a frenzied celebration.

Minutes earlier though, it looked as if Colleton Prep, appearing in its fifth title game in seven years, was poised to add its third championship in five tries.

After Lax's first touchdown reception, a 10-yarder with 11:31 remaining in the fourth, the War Hawks marched 72 yards on 19 plays, coverting six third downs and one fourth down en route to the end zone on a drive that chewed up 10 minutes of clock. Zemp's 1-yard keeper with 1:38 remaining would have sealed the game for the War Hawks, but Hunter Smith's extra point was wide right, giving the Sundevils a shot for the win in regulation.

Sundevils star Eric Pringle rushed 11 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns to help the Sundevils complete the remarkable turnaround. Charleston Collegiate was just 2-9 a season ago, but finishes 2007 at 11-3.

"This just leapfrogs us years in advance," Lax said. "People can see what we're about. Hopefully, some people will see and want to become part of this family we have."

Parker Headley rushed for 110 yards on 28 carries for Colleton Prep, which finishes at 7-6.

"I feel bad for my six seniors," said Colleton Prep head coach Brock Miller. "The one silver lining to this is how much it will make our underclassmen hungry to get back."