GERMANTOWN - Until last night, the Wilde Lake football team had avoided the costly turnovers, the missed opportunities, and the questionable decisions that can bog down a season.
But last night, everything seemed to hit the No. 8 Wildecats all at once as they dropped a 19-7 decision in Montgomery County to Northwest in a Class 3A state quarterfinal.
Wilde Lake (10-1) turned the ball over three times, could not punch it in from the red zone for a touchdown on the game's first drive, and failed to convert a fourth-and-13 that contributed to the Jaguars' second touchdown of the game.
"We had too many mistakes," said senior running back A.J. Case, who was the team's lone bright spot with 132 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. "We couldn't come back. You can't have mistakes in a game like this."
The Wildecats seemed to seize control of the game on their first possession as they embarked on a 13-play, 91-yard march that gave them first-and-goal at Northwest's 9-yard line.
But the Jaguars' defense kept Wilde Lake out of the end zone, and kicker Hamp Fields' 26-yard field-goal attempt fell short.
The score remained 0-0 until Northwest (8-2) capped a 13-play, 87-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by junior running back Travis Jackson for a 6-0 lead with 5:58 left in the second quarter.
On the first play of the third quarter, Jackson fumbled at his own 15, and Fields, playing safety, jumped on the loose ball. Four plays later, Case ran up the gut for 2 yards and a 7-6 lead.
On the Wildecats' next series, they drove down to the Jaguars' 29, where the offense stalled on three straight downs. Wilde Lake went for it on fourth-and-13 from the 32, but Fields, playing quarterback, overshot junior wide receiver Gabriel Ross.
Having attained a shorter field, Northwest needed just four plays to regain a 12-7 lead when Jackson scampered 47 yards for a score with 2:56 left in the third.
Wildecats coach Doug DuVall, who earned his 250th career win last week, said he had no reservations about going for it on fourth down.
"At that point, you get a sense in the game that you've got to push," he said.
Another promising drive to the Jaguars' 19 ended when Field fumbled the snap, which was recovered by junior linebacker Philip Butler.