Deep Run can do a lot with a little extra time.

  Prior to traveling to Patrick Henry Friday night, the Wildcats had won their two previous games in overtime. Thanks in large part to Garrett Walker, Deep Run extended that streak with a 27-21 Colonial District victory over the Patriots.

  Both schools are now tied for second place in the Colonial District standings with 3-1 records. Patrick Henry drops to 4-3 overall and Deep Run improves to 3-4.

  Walker’s contributions were vital in two ways. First, his 70-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter enabled the Wildcats to tie the game at 21 points apiece. Then, after a missed extra point following their touchdown in overtime left them vulnerable, he intercepted a Jayrin Waller pass in the end zone to preserve the win.

  “This is our third straight week in overtime,” Walker said. “Our defensive backs played awesome, our defense played awesome. Our offense, they’re starting to get their stuff done. We’re doing real well. We’re starting to come together as a team.”

  Walker did his share on both sides of the ball, accounting for 122 yards offense – 91 yards rushing and 31 receiving – in addition to the game-saving interception. Despite the heroics, he’d like to change some things.

  “We’ve got to stop playing in overtime,” Walker said. “It’s getting real aggravating, but a win is a win.”

  Both teams fought hard. Patrick Henry controlled the ball and led much of the game, but mistakes and an inability to put Deep Run away cost the Patriots a regulation victory, and mistakes in overtime cost them the game.

  “It’s a tough situation, if you win it [in overtime] it’s exciting, if you lose, it’s tough,” said Patrick Henry coach Sam Hart. “Down at the end, we had a mental breakdown on defense and they converted. They missed the extra point, gave us another shot at it, and unfortunately it didn’t work out for us.”

  Patrick Henry had its chances to win. After giving away a quick touchdown at the start of the game, the Patriots settled down and dominated the Wildcats for the rest of the first quarter and the first part of the second, scoring a go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard run by Waller with 10:07 in the half.

  But they sputtered toward halftime – for example, failing to convert a field goal attempt on the next series – and their sputtering allowed the Wildcats to tie the game 14-14 on a 22-yard pass from Nicky Vignone to Reid Sansom with 1:31 left in the half.

  Patrick Henry again dominated much of the third quarter, going ahead again on another 1-yard run by Waller with 5:34 remaining in the quarter. But the Patriots failed to convert another field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter. Deep Run got the ball, and on its second play Walker broke free for his 70-yard scoring run.

  “We had our chances to go up by two scores,” Hart said. “Two plays later they go for [70] yards on a drive that caught us moving around on our defense – on our defensive front. Momentum swung back their way and we were just trying to hang on at the end.”

  Patrick Henry’s next-to-last series in regulation ended in the Patriots returning the ball to Deep Run on downs.

  “We had chances,” said Hart. “We’ve had our chances all year as far as putting points on the board and coming away with empty opportunities or empty conversions, either on fourth down or field goals.”

  Waller led Patrick Henry offensively, completing 9-of-16 for 150 yards and one touchdown. Waller also scored the Patriots’ other two touchdowns on 1-yard runs.

  In overtime, each team started at the 10-yard line, and had four downs to score. Deep Run was given the opportunity to go first. Their first play, a run by Evan Hinkle, ended in a 2-yard loss. The next, however, was a 12-yard pass from Nicky Vignone to Reid Sansom. The point-after attempt failed however.

  All Patrick Henry needed to do was to score a touchdown and convert the extra point to win – but Walker’s grab of the Patriots’ first-down pass to end the game.

  “It seems like these kids certainly fight to the end,” said Deep Run coach Matt McLeod. “We’d like to win one in the regular time, but if we keep going like this, we’ll play overtime every game.”

Deep Run…................ 7 7 0 7 6—27
Patrick Henry….......... 7 7 7 0 0—21

RUSHING: Deep Run – Vignone 4 carries 23 yards, Hinkle 13-52, Norton 4-33, Walker 3-91. Patrick Henry – Houchens 24-78, Mock 3-7, Thomas 9-18, Waller 6-1, Markwood 2-7, MMinor 2-8.

PASSING: Deep Run – Vignone 8 completions 17 attempts 105 yards, 0 interceptions. Patrick Henry – Waller 9-16-150-2.

RECEIVING: Deep Run – Sansom 5 receptions 61 yards, Walker 1-31, Luxhoj 3-13. Patrick Henry – Houchens 2-58, Mock 4-59, RMinor 3-33.