Perspectives-Calumet takes down Marshall

Updated: December 28, 2011 7:35PM

Robert Sparr had never seen anything like it. Neither had Leroy Bridges III.

Perspectives-Calumet senior quarterback Sparr threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Bridges III on a roll out as time expired to give the Warriors the stunning 24-22 victory over previously-undefeated Marshall at Stagg Saturday afternoon.

Sparr and Bridges III collaborated on three touchdown passes as the Warriors nearly squandered a 10-point lead in the final eight minutes of the game. “I was supposed to run a curl, but I saw [Sparr] rolling out there and I just knew I had to come back and make a play on the ball,” Bridges III said.

The Warriors (2-4, 2-2 Windy City) seized a 6-0 halftime lead on starting quarterback Josh Wagner's 32-yard touchdown pass to Bridges III in the second quarter. Wagner finished 4 of 5 with 135 yards.

Sparr’s 53-yard bomb to Bridges III down the right sideline put the Warriors up 18-8 with 9:37 remaining.

“I’m so excited, I just wanted to win one for the my team. I was even focused on how many touchdowns I had,” he said.

Sparr finished 3 of 4 for 61 yards and the two touchdowns. Bridges III caught six passes for 156 yards.

The dramatic victory ended a wild series of events in the final minute. The touchdown was set up by sophomore strong safety Jahleel Griffin’s fumble recovery at the Commandos’ three-yard line with 57 seconds remaining.

Marshall defensive back Al Hawkins appeared to put the game away with an interception in the end zone moments earlier. On second down at the Marshall 5-yard line, Commando quarterback Quinell Johnson was stripped of the ball.

On first and goal, Sparr rolled left and was knocked down at the 1-yard line. With no time outs and the clock running, the official inadvertently threw a flag, incorrectly believing the Warriors had too many players on the field.

He restarted the clock and Sparr got the snapped off just in time.

Jimmie Williams’ 52-yard interception returned pushed the Warriors’ lead to 12-0. Marshall averaged 48 points per game in its first five games. Sundae Nichols’ 33-yard burst set up Johnson’s two-yard quarterback keeper.

Down 18-8 in the fourth quarter, Marshall staged a furious comeback behind fullback Edward Bell, who scored two touchdowns on a three-yard run and an eight-yard pass from Johnson 4 minutes apart. Bell’s second touchdown came with just 2:15 remaining.

Marshall coach Jarve Lewis-Bay said the team’s poor start was partly the result of him benching several key starters for missing practice. “It is what it is,” he said. “You can’t win every game.”

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