With their playoff aspirations dashed after last week’s last-minute loss to undefeated Priceville and a depleted roster due to attrition and injuries, some observers may have wondered if Locust Fork had anything left in its gas tank this season.

After letting a 12-0 halftime lead turn into a 21-20 deficit in the fourth quarter and facing a J.B.Pennington team that was wearing down the Hornets by keeping the football for 13 of the first 14 minutes of the second half, it was beginning to appear that the skeptics may have been right.

But after Locust Fork linebacker/running back Drew Rogers recovered a Tiger fumble at the Pennington 43-yard line with 4:44 left in the game, the Hornet offense sent the skeptics into hiding with a winning touchdown drive capped by Rogers 18-yard run with 1:50 remaining, then caught a 2-point conversion pass from quarterback Chase Rice to lift the homestanding Hornets to a 28-21 victory on senior night.

It was a game of contrasts, as the first half featured two Locust Fork touchdowns and a defense that allowed only 80 yards to the Tigers. But the second half was a wild back-and-forth affair not decided until the last minute of the game.

Locust Fork won the opening coin toss and elected to receive — a decision that paid immediate dividends as kick returner Chase Biles broke free for a 76-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. A try for two points failed, but Locust Fork led early 6-0.

Two possessions later after Hornet defensive back Tyler Boniella intercepted a pass, Rice found receiver Michael Reid for a 10-yard scoring pass. Rogers’ point-after attempt was no good, but the Hornets carried a 12-0 lead to the halftime.

The visitors from Blountsville wasted little time in getting back into the game, as they took the second half kickoff and marched 65 yards in only three plays for a touchdown. The score came on a 68-yard pass from quarterback Travis Cleveland to Bailey Dempsey. Jacob Washburn added the extra point to narrow the Hornet lead to 12-7.

The Tigers then perfectly executed an onside kick and took over at the Locust Fork 49, and then took the lead on a 7-yard run by Washburn. Cleveland then found Evan Underwood with a pass for the 2-point conversion, and Pennington led for the first time at 15-12 with 5:41 left in the third quarter.

Locust Fork responded with a quick scoring drive of their own, as Rogers rambled 30 yards to paydirt to lift the Hornets back into the lead. Biles then ran for the 2-point conversion to give Locust Fork a 20-15 advantage.

Shortly thereafter, Biles suffered what appeared to be a significant knee injury. His condition is not officially known.

Pennington regained the lead as they ate up over six minutes of clock with a 69-yard drive, finished off by a Washburn 3-yard scoring run. The try for two points failed, but the Tigers lead once again 21-20 early in the final quarter.

Things looked bleak for Locust Fork after they lost a fumble on their next possession. Cleveland tossed an apparent touchdown pass that may have put the game away, but the play was called back due to a penalty. A Pennington wide receiver was “covered up” on the play by another receiver, therefore making him an ineligible receiver. When he ran a pass route, even though the pass was not thrown to him, he was an ineligible receiver downfield and the touchdown was nullified.

As a result, Pennington was forced to punt, but Locust Fork then threw an interception in Tiger territory with 4:44 left and again it appeared that the Hornets were doomed. One play later, however, Cleveland fumbled the football; that set up the final drive by the Hornets to regain the lead.

Defensive back Laine Terry then intercepted a Cleveland pass and the Hornets ran out the clock to seal the win.

Rogers led all rushers with 143 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns.

It was Locust Fork’s fifth consecutive victory over Pennington and their 10th in the past 11 meetings.

The Hornets improve to 4-5 overall and finish 3-4 in Class 4A Region 7. They will try for their third straight non-losing season — the last time this was done was 2000-2002 — with a trip to Hokes Bluff next Thursday.