High Schools: Hurst L.D. Bell

IRVING – It'll be known around Hebron High School as "The Drive."

Hebron got a 15-yard touchdown pass from Justin Iwuji to Alex Norman with 17 seconds left to escape Texas Stadium with a 21-17 win over Hurst L.D. Bell on Saturday in a bi-district playoff game.

The play capped a six-play, 68-yard drive.

"I ran a corner route. All game long, I'd been running post routes," said Norman, who said the last of his five catches "was the biggest of his life."

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"We decided to switch it up on them. I knew I'd catch it if was thrown to me."

Hebron (8-3) started the drive with 1:46 to play after forcing L.D. Bell (7-4) to turn the ball over on downs. Hebron opened the drive with an 18-yard run by Darius Staten.

Following an L.D. Bell sack, Iwuji connected with Norman on a clutch, 26-yard pass on third down. That play, followed by a 14-yard pass from Iwuji to Phillip Mitchell, set up the winning play.

"The coaches saw that [L.D. Bell's] safeties had been breaking on the post route all game," Iwuji said. "As soon as I let the ball go, I knew Alex would make a play on it."

On L.D. Bell's final possession, quarterback Lehi Tonga scrambled and threw a desperation heave, which was intercepted by Mitchell to end the game.

Hebron's winning touchdown blanketed a remarkable performance by L.D. Bell, which held a 17-14 lead most of the second half. Sophomore Kenneth Farrow rushed 33 times for 193 yards and a touchdown.

"This was one of those games where you're sitting there seeing your season go away, and the next thing you know, you're saying, 'Hey, we won the game,' " Hebron coach Brian Brazil said.

"There weren't a lot of people giving us hope, and it looked pretty bleak. Fortunately for us, we got a stop, and our offense went down and scored. It was a great ball by Justin and a great catch by Alex."