Drama class

By Travis Stewart // TexasFootball.com

I'm not entirely sure how our reader base matches up with that of women's international soccer, but in case you missed it, the US women's world cup team pieced together one of the most dramatic finishes I've ever seen in any sport yesterday — down a player and with seconds left, the US scored and then polished off super-talented Brazil in penalty kicks to set off a wild frenzy of celebration. I was lucky enough to watch the whole thing and cheered as loud as I ever have at anything.

So that got us here at DCTF thinking — what's the most dramatic finish we've ever seen in the high school football ranks? It took me a second, because I've been lucky enough to see a lot of good games over the years, but I know what my pick is. Associate editor Greg Tepper lists his pick here, too. But mine's better — I still say it's one of the most entertaining, shocking and memorable high school football games in US history.

And guess what? I have the entire transcript of the game here. Thank you, Internet. This matchup was a 2007 playoff game between Smithson Valley and San Antonio Madison, with SV jumping out to a huge lead and Madison looking, well, cooked.

But here's the synopsis, plus some of what I remember. The game looked like it was finished with Smithson Valley up 28-7, with the ball deep in Madison territory, with less than five minutes to play in the third. But Madison forced an interception, and that's when the magic started. Madison took over and QB Bryan Ehrlich immediately found unheralded sophomore receiver Nate Askew streaking down the field for a perfect 49-yard touchdown catch. With the score now at 28-14, the game was officially on.

But Smithson Valley responded with a startling touchdown of its own to make it a 35-14 game with just seconds gone by in the fourth. Most of the time, that's ballgame. But Nate Askew refused to go away quietly — Madison's next possession ended in another Askew touchdown catch, a jump ball snag that still ranks as one of the most incredible I've seen. He was so well defended that I couldn't even see him from the press box, but he still outjumped the double coverage and hauled it in. 35-21, and the tension was mounting.

Again, Smithson Valley looked like it ended the game when it forced Madison out on downs with just a few minutes remaining. But Madison forced a fumble on SV's second play of what could have been a game-ending drive, and, once again, Askew scored in short fashion — another touchdown catch that brought Madison within 35-28 with 1:26 left to play. Smithson Valley recovered the onside kick, but Madison stopped three plays in short fashion and got the ball back one more time with a minute left.

Guess who? Askew -- his fourth touchdown of the final quarter and a half, this one a 52-yard strike to tie the game. Remember -- no one even knew who Askew was at this point! The future Texas A&M signee was still "No. 8" at this point! Smithson Valley had a Hail Mary to end regulation and win it, but it went awry.

Smithson Valley started overtime with the ball, but opted to skip a field goal kick and go for a first down. Madison defended it, and then kicked a short 20 yarder to win it. At that point, the whole stadium was in bedlam. I'll never forget it.