TF North downs TF South in OT

Updated: September 30, 2011 11:01PM

It took overtime and a little trickery, but T.F. North regained bragging rights over arch rival T.F. South for the first time in five years with a 16-14 victory Friday night in Lansing in South Suburban Blue play.

A half-back pass from Nikita Smith to a wide open Claude Garrett in the end zone for a two-point conversion ended the game.

“We probably ran that play three or four times this season,” said Meteors quarterback Dion Beecham.

T.F. North scored in overtime on a one-yard run by Beecham on third down. A pass interference call on T.F. South on fourth down gave the Meteors new life.

T.F. South, which got the ball first, scored on a 10-yard run by Tre’Von Hughes on the Rebels’ first play. A run by Giovanni Canty on the two-point conversion was stopped.

“It feels good,” Beecham said. “I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life.”

Tied 8-8, the Rebels appeared to be headed for a scoring drive late in the fourth quarter when Canty (27 carries, 123 yards) scampered 60 yards to the Meteors’ 23-yard-line, but an interception by Adam Combs ended that drive.

T.F. North (4-2, 2-2) went ahead 8-0 in the second quarter on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Beecham, capping an eight-play, 37-yard drive.

After getting stopped at the T.F. North 1-yard-line on their first drive of the second half, T.F. South faced an identical situation on their next drive. This time Canty dove into the end zone for a score. The senior then tied the game with a successful two-point conversion run.

After gaining only 16 yards in the first half, the Meteors’ offense improved in the second half with 152 rushing yards.

T.F. South (1-5, 0-4) leads the all-time series 36-19.

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