ALMA -- Jaquan Dorsey has only had four starts as the Watson Chapel quarterback. He's certainly grown up in a hurry.
[HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD: Full results + recaps, photos and more]
Dorsey completed 15 of 17 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 176 yards and another touchdown to lead the Wildcats past Alma 42-35 Friday night in Airedale Stadium in a second-round Class 5A playoff game.
Watson Chapel^7^14^14^7^—^42
Alma^0^7^14^14^—^35
First Quarter
Wat — Harris 10 pass from Dorsey (Taylor kick), 8:34.
Second Quarter
Wat — Allen 3 run (Taylor kick), 10:34.
Wat — White 2 run (Taylor kick), 3:06.
Alma — Johnson 12 pass from Dotson (Walker kick), :05.
Third Quarter
Wat — Dorsey 2 run (Taylor kick), 3:41.
Alma — Huff 25 pass from Dotson (Walker kick), 3:09.
Wat — Devontre Curry 62 pass from Dorsey (Taylor kick), 2:19.
Alma — Dotson 7 pass from Johnson (Walker kick), :29.
Fourth Quarter
Alma — Oliver 12 pass from Dotson (Walker kick), 9:50.
Wat — Allen 7 run (Taylor kick), 9:31.
Alma — Crims 17 pass from Dotson (Walker kick), 7:04.
The 6-foot-2 senior stepped into the starting role in the ninth week of the season and has taken over leadership of the team, said Watson Chapel coach Jared Dutton, whose team won its second-road playoff game in as many weeks.
Watson Chapel jumped out to a 21-0 lead as Dorsey led drives of 80, 89 and 74 yards to stake the Wildcats the big early lead.
"This was right the opposite of last week when we got down 21-0," Dutton said. "I saw a focused team tonight. I've never seen this team be this focused, and I saw it in the locker room. I had a good feeling that if we showed up and played, we had a chance."
Watson Chapel (8-4) dominated the line of scrimmage in building the big lead and held Alma's dual-threat quarterback Noah Dotson in check in the first half.
"Hat's off to Watson Chapel," said Alma coach Doug Loughridge. "They were physical and they never backed down."
With Dorsey leading the way, the Wildcats drove 80 yards on their first possession to take a 7-0 lead. Dorsey was 5-for-5 on the drive and capped the march with a 10-yard scoring strike to Jonathan Harris on a slant across the middle with 8 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first quarter.
Dorsey's only two incompletions in the game were interceptions, and the first came late in the first half when Brayden Johnson picked him off at the Wildcats 18. But the Airedales (8-4) gave the ball right back on a fumble, and Watson Chapel drove 89 yards to take a 14-0 lead.
The lead swelled to 21-0 before Alma finally got on the board just before the half after Jaedon Mitchell intercepted Dorsey, and the Airedales scored four plays later when Dotson hit Johnson on a 12-yard pass in the back of the end zone to cut the deficit to 21-7.
Alma trailed 28-7 and 35-14 in the third quarter before Dotson led a furious rally that closed the margin to 35-28 when he hit Zach Oliver, who high-pointed the ball and fell into the corner of the end zone with 9:50 left in the game.
The momentum evaporated quickly as Davion White returned the ensuing kickoff 76 yards, and coupled with an Alma penalty, move the ball to the Alma 7. Omar Allen scored his second touchdown of the game to give Watson Chapel a two-touchdown lead at 42-28.
"That was huge," Dutton said. "I just knew we had to keep answering. Especially after he fumbled and allowed them to get back in the game."
Alma had a chance late in the game after the Airedales scored to close to within 42-35. But on third and 10 with four minutes left, Dorsey scrambled for 18 yards and a first down to seal the game.
"This is just next man up," said Dorsey when asked about taking over as quarterback. "I moved from receiver to quarterback, and I knew how to play both, so it was just an easy transition for me."
Dotson finished the night 19-of-37 for 204 yards and four touchdowns passing. He also rushed for 75 yards and caught a touchdown pass. Johnson caught 10 passes for 96 yards and one touchdown.
Watson Chapel is on the road again next week at Wynne.
Sports on 11/19/2016