MENDENHALL – With a last-minute touchdown pass, Lawrence County came away with a win against Mendenhall Friday.

Charl’Tez Nunnery threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to T-Tez Cole with 32 seconds left in the game, giving the Cougars’ a final score of 27-26.

Cole’s TD reception capped a seven-play, 88-yard drive in the waning moments of the game. On what would have been a game-ending interception, a roughing-the-passer penalty against Mendenhall kept the drive alive for the Cougars.

When the dust settled, Jaymie Palmer’s Cougars stood at 4-2 on the season, having already equaled last season’s win total. Lawrence County opens Division 7-4A play next week at North Pike.

Mendenhall, under first-year coach Durwood Anderson, fell to a misleading 0-6. The Tigers opened the season with five straight games against larger schools, perhaps the toughest early-season schedule among 4A schools.

“It was a great win for our team,” Palmer said. “It wasn’t a perfect game, but it was a gutsy one. Not only did we have to drive the length of the field for the win, but our defense had to make a stop to give us that opportunity. I’m proud of the effort our guys gave.”

After taking an early 14-0 lead, Lawrence County saw Mendenhall take over the game, scoring three straight touchdowns, for an 18-14 lead. Lawrence County regained the lead, 21-18, on a Quitten Brown touchdown early in the fourth quarter, only to see Mendenhall drive quickly down the field to recapture the lead.

Mendenhall appeared poised to put the game away in the late-going, but the LCHS defense stopped the Tigers on downs at the Cougar 22-yard line, with 2:32 left in the game. The Cougar defense had set up Lawrence County for its dramatic finish.

Lawrence County controlled the game early, driving 80 yards on 10 plays on the Cougars’ first possession. Nunnery passed 24 yards to Duke Tanksley for a touchdown that was set up by a 39-yard Nunnery-to-Marcus Atterberry completion. Joshua Stephens kicked the first of three all-important extra points.

With the Lawrence County defense keeping a good grip on the Tiger offense for most of the first half, Nunnery ran 10 yards for the touchdown to extend the Cougars’ lead to 14-0 with just 1:36 left in the half.

That two-touchdown lead didn’t last long, as the Mendenhall offense suddenly came to life. The Tigers drove 65 yards in hurry-up fashion, scoring on a Quantavian Dampeer-to-Jaylon McDaniel 8-yard pass with just 14 seconds left in the half. Brandon Armstrong blocked the Tigers’ extra-point attempt, and that would turn out to be big.

Mendenhall dominated the third quarter, first driving 91 yards in seven running plays. A 41-yard run by Kendrick Feazell set up quarterback Dampeer’s 15-yard scoring run. Mendenhall’s two-point attempt was stuffed by the Cougar defense, preserving Lawrence County’s 14-12 lead.

The lead wasn’t preserved for long. Mendenhall promptly recovered an on-side kick and drove 52 yards in eight plays to take the lead. Feazell scored on an 8-yard run, after Dampeer’s 31-yard pass completion to Malik Bethea got the Tigers close. Another two-point attempt failed, but Mendenhall had an 18-14 lead.

The Lawrence County offense responded. First, a 17-yard kickoff return by Laderrick McCray got LCHS good field position at the Cougars’ 41. The Cougars then drove 59 yards in nine plays. Two chain-moving completions to Marcus Atterberry were keys to the drive. It was completed with Quitten Brown’s 7-yard run, with 10 minutes left in the game. Stephens’ kick gave Lawrence County a 21-18 lead.

Mendenhall barely broke stride in racing down the field to regain the lead, going 80 yards in just five plays. Deion Dampeer gave the Tigers the lead with a 15-yard touchdown run. He then ran for 2 points.

When Mendenhall’s defense stuffed the Cougars for a three-and-out punt, and the Tiger offense drove deep into LCHS territory, things looked somewhat hopeless for Lawrence County. However, the Cougar defense, led by senior defensive end Cedric Rhodes, stopped Mendenhall on downs at the Cougar 22-yard line.

Six plays and a critical roughing-the-passer penalty later, Nunnery found Cole streaking down the LCHS sideline for 35 yards and the winning touchdown. The victory was secured when Mendenhall muffed the ensuing kickoff, with Quitten Brown making the clinching recovery.

Nunnery, healthy for the first time since a week three leg injury, completed 11 of 21 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown.

Mendenhall quarterback Quantavian Dampeer was also outstanding. He passed for 173 yards and two scores. Kendrick Feazell led all rushers with 128 yards and a touchdown, on 15 carries.

Unofficially, Rhodes, Armstrong and Willie Earl Bryant were among the leading tacklers for the Lawrence County defense. Randy Haynes had a fumble recovery, and Laderrick McCray had a pass interception. Brown and Lane Rutland had fumble recoveries on special teams.