Conway needed one more big play from quarterback Noah Legg and wide receiver Javon Smalls to make history.
And they delivered.
Legg fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to Smalls on fourth-and-four with 1:48 left, lifting the Tigers to a thrilling, come-from-behind 35-28 win to open Beach Region play Friday night.
It was Conway’s second straight win, the first time the program had done that since 2017.
“That’s huge for us,” said Conway coach Josh Pierce. “We talked a lot all week about focusing on how we do things, not what we do. … We came out in the first quarter not ready to play. We laid an egg. The kids didn’t fold and they did a great job in the second half.”
The left-handed Legg has a cannon for an arm and Smalls hauled in in five of his throws for 170 yards in the second half.
And that had Legg gushing over Smalls.
“That kid’s special, man,” Legg said. “He’s an athlete. He can run faster than anyone on this field and I believe that with my whole heart. He’s fast. He can catch. Our chemistry is just growing. We’ve got more in store.”
They needed it, especially on that last drive.
To even get in position for the game-winning play, the Tigers had to overcome a third-and-18 from their own 30. They did so when Legg and Smalls connected on a 39-yard reception. Smalls was wide open and even had to slow down to wait for the ball.
“It’s my release,” Smalls said. “I went to the outside. He’s looking at my hips. I just went right. My speed just took it from there.”
The Tigers, who were down two touchdowns at one point in the first half, finally took the lead on Legg’s 86-yard touchdown strike to Smalls with 27 seconds left in the third quarter. The ball traveled about 50 yards in the air and Smalls caught it over his right shoulder in stride.
Conway quarterback Noah Legg starts to make a throw.
Conway didn’t get to celebrate too long after the Chiefs’ Brayden Pagan returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards to the Conway 33.
The run-oriented Chiefs pulled even on an improbable play. On fourth-and four from the 17, freshman quarterback Mason Walker threw a touchdown pass to Will McNeely on a perfect play-action fake.
