Late field goal gives Arnold dramatic win over Catholic

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Austin Peffers waited four years to kick the most important field goal of his high school career.

Peffers, Arnold’s entrenched place-kicker for the past four years, booted a 40-yard field goal with one second left to lift the Marlins to an improbable 38-36 victory over Pensacola Catholic in a District 1-5A football game Friday night at the Mike Gavlak Sports Complex.

Arnold (5-2, 3-1 district) pulled even with Mosley for second place in the district standings. The Marlins can draw even with first-place West Florida next week when the two teams square off in Pensacola.

“We’re in good shape in the district,” Arnold coach Josh Wright said enthusiastically after the game.

Catholic faced a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but cut into that margin with a 1-yard touchdown run by Simeon Smiley with 8½ minutes left. Jawan Purifoy’s 7-yard touchdown run closed the gap to 35-34 with 39 seconds left, and Kyle Brown plunged into the end zone with a two-point conversion for a 36-35 lead.

Arnold quarterback Cody Saunders led the Marlins downfield quickly with passes to Jovanni Perea, Paul Patterson and Torri Cotton to advance the ball to the Crusaders’ 23. Peffers, who made two earlier field goals and was one of numerous Arnold seniors recognized before the game, drilled the kick through the uprights with one second remaining on the clock.

Catholic was unable to advance its return on the ensuing kickoff, and Arnold players and fans rushed the field to celebrate.

“It was huge, but he’s so clutch, though,” Wright said of Peffers, who also had field goals of 27 and 31 yards. “He likes it when the game is on his shoulders.”

Saunders completed 21 of 35 passes for 279 yards, and he added 83 rushing yards on 12 carries. Perea hauled down seven catches for 95 yards, and Patterson had six catches for 94 yards.

The Marlins scored on their first four possessions en route to a 24-14 halftime lead. Saunders threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Perea, a 22-yard TD strike to Stephen Benedik and a 14-yard scoring pass to tight end Tyler Minchew in the first half.

Saunders’ 33-yard touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter gave the Marlins a 35-21 advantage.

Catholic quarterback Z’khari Blocker completed 26 of 39 passes for 322 yards, but he was intercepted twice, including once by Patterson deep in Arnold territory with 3:40 left in the game. Blocker also rushed for a 6-yard score for the Crusaders’ second touchdown of the first half.

Catholic            7 7 7 15 – 35

Arnold               10 17 8 3 – 36

Arn: Perea 24 pass from Saunders (Peffers kick)

PC: Purifoy 11 run (Harris kick)

Arn: FG Peffers 27

Arn: Benedik 22 pass from Saunders (Peffers kick)

PC: Blocker 6 run (Harris kick)

Arn: Minchew 14 pass from Saunders (Peffers kick)

Arn: FG Peffers 31

PC: Smiley 4 run (Harris kick)

Arn: Saunders 33 run (Williams run)

PC: Smiley 1 run (Harris kick)

PC: Purifoy 7 run (Brown run)

Arn: FG Peffers 40