WILDCATS ESCAPE ON MIRACLE
(defeat Providence 38-32)

Last year it seemed the bounces went the other way for Florala, but this year - just maybe - the Wildcats can get a few breaks.  One came Friday night as Providence Christian lined for a field goal with a chance to win the game with less than 4 seconds remaining.  "Their kicker had been putting the ball in the end zone all night - I knew distance wasn't a problem" said Program23 field reported Kyle McCoy. 

At the snap Wildcat  Stephon McLaughlin got a hand on the ball and Providence Christian watched in disbelief as Calvin Mulkey caught a blocked kick and raced 80 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game for a 38-32 win by No. 8-ranked Florala Friday night.

“My leg was killing me, but I had my team on my back and I knew I was going to score,” Mulkey said of the final play.

"In my 25 years of coaching - I've never had that happen to me" said Coach Arlton Hudson about the kick returned to end the game.  "I hear a team in North Alabama had the same thing happen - how unusual is that - twice in one night to end games and win".  

Providence scored two late touchdowns to tie the game, then got in position to win when Hamilton Jordan intercepted a pass at the Eagles’ 35 and returned it to the Florala 24 with four seconds left in the game.

Jake Nobles, who scored four touchdowns for Providence, then went out to line up for a 40-yard field goal try with hopes of winning the game.

"Providence is going to win some games this year - they are 100 times better than last season" said Hudson.  "You can tell they've worked extremely hard during the off-season".  Providence Christian coach Emory Latta was proud of his team, too.   “They kept fighting. We got down 15 in the fourth quarter and kept battling back.”

Florala built a 32-17 lead with 1:18 left in the third after QB TJ Fleming hit senior Danny Bise on a 38-yard touchdown. 

Florala built a 32-17 lead with 1:18 left in the third after QB TJ Fleming hit senior Danny Bise on a 38-yard touchdown.  Almost twelve minutes later the score was tied as Providence Nick Plagenhoef hit Jake Nobles with a strike over the middle for touchdown to tie the game 32-32 with 1:17 left.

Nobles rushed for 167 yards on 25 carries for Providence, while Chris Crawford ran for 75 yards on 18 tries. Plagenhoef threw for 113 yards, completing 6-of-8.

Fleming threw for 253 yards (11-of-18) for Florala, while Gundrum ran for 130 yards on 11 carries.