CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas \u2014 <\/p>\n
As the ball was snapped for the final play between Miller and Flour Bluff, home fans at Hornet Stadium was ready to celebrate. <\/p>\n
But Laythan Wilson shut down the party. <\/p>\n
With 8 seconds to go on their own 45 yard line, Miller sophomore QB Jayden Herrera threw a dot to Wilson on the visitor sideline. Wilson leaped like he had springs in his shoes, brought the ball down, high-stepped a diving tackle, and crossed the pylon. <\/p>\n
Miller 46, Flour Bluff 41. <\/p>\n
HAIL MARY: Miller wins on final play in thrilling opener vs. Flour Bluff<\/p>\n
“It’s electric,” Wilson said. “It’s a good feeling. Everyone cheering for you.”<\/p>\n
The Bucs sideline erupted. Fans and players that were hanging their heads only a moment ago were losing their minds. <\/p>\n
Herrera to Wilson. 65 yards. Final play of the game.<\/p>\n
Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No way.<\/p>\n
Miller shouldn’t have needed the dramatics to walk away with a season opening win. The Bucs led 40-29 with 5:15 remaining but Flour Bluff scored two quick touchdowns. The second came on a Sam Smith 2-yard rush that left 1:33 on the clock for Miller to respond. <\/p>\n
Herrera drove his team down the field with 90 seconds, scrambling out of bounds to stop the clock and connecting with Wilson twice before the game-winning miracle. <\/p>\n
It was the first win for new head coach David McHugh, who takes over for all-time winningest coach in Miller history, Justen Evans. <\/p>\n
McHugh, who came to Miller after being the head coach at Bishop, was euphoric postgame.<\/p>\n
“We responded,” McHugh said. “Every single time we got punched we responded. We were resilient all night.” <\/p>\n
Miller scored on its opening drive behind a couple nice catches by Wilson. The drive was finished off by running back Tayshayun Taylor who had multiple scores. <\/p>\n
Flour Bluff responded in the second quarter on an 80-yard TD from QB Michael Lawrence to senior wideout Ransom Watson. <\/p>\n
Miller led 30-16 at halftime but the Hornets added two touchdowns in the third quarter to make it 30-29. <\/p>\n
Jaidyn Gonzalez caught a 28-yard pass from Herrera to make it 37-29, followed by a field goal to make it 40-29. <\/p>\n
And just like McHugh said, Flour Bluff gave them a punch. The Hornets scored twice to take the lead 41-40. <\/p>\n
But with all odds against them, Miller responded on the final play. <\/p>\n
Nobody could’ve predicted it. Nobody was expecting it. Nobody believed it could happen.<\/p>\n
Nobody, except for the folks in the purple and gold. <\/p>\n
We talk about it every day being tough in tough times and battling together. We showed that today,” McHugh said. <\/p>\n
For the latest local news updates, click here<\/a>, or download the KRIS 6 News App. <\/a><\/p>\n