Hornets' Lucas sweats it out

Damascus star delivers big plays in win despite having the flu

Brian Lucas missed the first three days of school this week while sick with the flu. Even though he felt better on Friday night, the Damascus senior running back and linebacker still threw up repeatedly during a crucial Montgomery 3A game.

The last thing he wanted to be doing was playing football, but Lucas also knew the Swarmin' Hornets were relying on him to earn a fifth consecutive victory and punch their ticket to the postseason.

With the game on the line, Lucas knew exactly what to expect. With visiting Clarksburg going for a game-winning two-point conversion in overtime, Lucas knifed in from his middle linebacker position and tackled the Coyotes' quarterback, preserving a 14-13 victory in a Montgomery 3A game before an overflow crowd of 2,500.

As soon as Lucas and fellow linebacker Nick Magas slung Clarksburg standout Andrew Veith to the muddy grass, the Damascus sideline erupted in celebration, and players rushed the field to celebrate clinching a state-record 12th consecutive playoff berth.

"My stomach hurts right now. I feel terrible," Lucas said. "I told my dad the last thing I want to do is play football again. I'm freezing. I've got cold sweats. I've been watching a lot of 'Price Is Right' and 'Jeopardy.' "

While Damascus rejoiced, visiting Clarksburg (6-3, 5-2) was left with a tenuous postseason outlook after its third loss in four games.

The Coyotes had taken a 7-0 just before halftime on Veith's 15-yard touchdown pass to Ace Clark Jr. on fourth down. Lucas gained 41 of his 60 yards on the first possession of the second half, scoring on a six-yard run to the right to tie the game at 7.

Late in regulation, Damascus (7-2, 4-2) had a touchdown pass negated by a penalty and then missed a field goal attempt.

In overtime, the Hornets took a 14-7 lead when quarterback Connor Frazier faked a second-down handoff to Lucas and passed to Nick Pugh wide open in the end zone.

Clarksburg answered on third and goal at the 3 when Veith passed to Sam Collins on the right side of the end zone. Immediately, Clarksburg's players signaled that instead of kicking an extra point and going to a second overtime, they wanted to go for the two-point conversion.

"No question we were going for it," Clarksburg Coach Larry Hurd Jr. said. "It didn't work out. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It was a heck of a football game."