Ragan’s TD reception on final play gives Vikings dramatic win over Madison Central

Eight years of frustration hung on the football as it floated toward the end zone.

Madison Central’s Isiah Thomas and Warren Central’s Larry Ferguson jumped together, battling for the right to continue the Jaguars’ dominance in the series or set off the wildest celebration Viking Stadium has seen in years. Taking it all in, a step from the goal line, was perhaps the coolest guy in the place, Marcus Ragan.

The Warren Central receiver watched the play unfold and, when Thomas won his battle by knocking the ball away, was there to take that final step into the end zone and immortality.

Ragan plucked the deflected ball out of the air for the game-winning touchdown as time expired Friday night, giving Warren Central a 16-14 walk-off victory over Madison Central.

It’s the first time WC (7-0, 3-0 Region 2-6A) has beaten the Jaguars (4-3, 1-2) since 2005.

“At first I just wanted to catch the ball. Then, when I saw my teammates celebrating, I had to just go be with them,” Ragan said. “That is a great feeling. My body is still numb. It’s the best feeling.”

Ragan’s catch sent fans rushing onto the field, where they lingered for nearly 30 minutes after the game. Players took pictures with family and friends, shared hugs and celebrated the program’s biggest win in more than a decade.

WC is 7-0 for the first time since its 1994 state championship season, and Friday’s victory sent a statement to the rest of Class 6A that it is a legitimate title contender this year.

“It just gets bigger and bigger now. Our team is not satisfied. This is not where we stop. We just keep moving forward. But we’ll definitely use this as a building block,” WC coach Josh Morgan said.

Gabe Short rushed for two first-half touchdowns to give Madison Central a 14-10 lead going into the fourth quarter, but Warren Central’s defense stood tall late and helped it overcome a slew of self-inflicted wounds.

An illegal block wiped out a touchdown following a blocked punt, and quarterback Alex Stevens threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter.

WC’s defense, however, didn’t allow a first down in the fourth quarter and held Madison to a season-low 189 yards of total offense in the game.

Madison Central quarterback Trey Smith, who was averaging 128 rushing yards per game, was held to 52 yards on 15 carries.

“We got in good position. Our defense buckled down and gave us an opportunity. Good things happen to good people, and these guys have been doing things right,” Morgan said.

The defensive dominance set the stage for the final gut-twisting drive that burned the last 3 1/2 minutes off the clock.

Starting from midfield, the Vikings converted twice on fourth down to keep the drive alive, then moved inside the 10 with the help of two penalties on Madison Central.

Stevens — who finished 16-of-30 for 171 yards and two touchdowns — threw incomplete twice and then completed a screen pass to Jeremy Lewis that was stopped cold at the 7-yard line. Warren Central called its final timeout with 5 seconds to go.

With one final shot on fourth-and-goal, the Vikings dialed up what was essentially a 7-yard hail mary play. Stevens took the snap and rolled to his right, while Ferguson, Ragan and Chris Stamps split out of a bunch formation toward the front corner of the end zone.

Madison Central defended the play perfectly. Thomas got position inside of Ferguson and got a hand on the ball. Ragan, however, was on the spot to collect the leftovers.

The deflection hung in the air long enough for Ragan to get a read on it. With no one covering him, he took one step toward the ball and gathered it in as his momentum took him into the end zone.

Ragan then jogged toward the other side of the field with the ball held high, as much a victory lap as a desperate run to avoid the crowd that erupted in glee as he scored.

“That wasn’t how it was designed, but in practice we worked on the tip drill,” Ragan said. “When I saw the ball go in the air, I just wanted to get in position to make the catch if it was tipped. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

On YouTube

Warren Central’s game-winning touchdown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqtYktnCR_s&feature=youtu.be