By WAYNE STEWART

Herald-Press

ALTO — After 48 minutes of football Alto and Cayuga had to play a little more before the Wildcats pulled it out in overtime, 43-36.

“It’s the type of game you would expect from two top-10 teams,” Cayuga head football coach Tommy Allison said after the game Friday.

It looked like Cayuga had the game wound up late in the fourth quarter after the Wildcats held the ball for more than 5 minutes before scoring a touchdown with less than minute to play.

Cayuga’s Malcome Kennedy pounded the ball in from 4 yards out with 55 seconds left. With kicker Melvin Shead suffering leg pain the Wildcats elected to go for two points and made it when Kennedy again powered his way into the end zone, putting putting Cayuga up 36-28.

With just 55 seconds left, Alto got the ball back and quickly went to work. A couple of long runs by Alto quarterback Javante Jones and a personal foul penalty against Cayuga set Jones up for a 1-yard plunge into the end zone with just 7 seconds left.

Needing two points to tie the game, it looked as if Alto had blown its chances when they were flagged for illegal procedure, setting them up at the 8-yard line.

With no other options, Jones put the ball in the air and found Josh Randuloph in the back of the end zone.

Just like that, the game was tied and headed to overtime.

Cayuga got the ball first in overtime. With their chance from the 25, the Wildcats scored on three plays, with the touchdown coming on a 16-yard pass from Kennedy to Billy Duncan. Shead returned to his kicking duties and made good on the extra point attempt, putting Cayuga up 43-36.

Alto’s turn came next, but Cayuga’s defense rose to the challenge.

“All season we’ve been talking to them about character,” Allison said. “They really showed it tonight. After that touchdown, they really stepped up. We’ve got a great bunch of kids.”

Alto started their overtime session with back-to-back illegal procedure penalties, backing them up to the 35-yard line. The Yellowjackets weren’t able to move the ball in overtime, and Traylon Shead sealed the game when he intercepted Jones’ pass on a fourth and 11 play, sealing the game for Cayuga.

Traylon Shead came up big on offense as well, rushing for 113 yards on 18 carries. He also had 69 yards receiving on a pair of option catches — both of them touchdowns.

Kennedy came up big as well, running for 108 yards on 22 carries. He also threw for 123 yards on 7-of-11 passing with four touchdown passes. Kennedy also had a receiving touchdown after a fake end around by Duncan, who threw the ball and found Kennedy all alone for the score.

Jones had most of the offense for Alto, running for 114 yards on 25 carries while throwing for 146 with three interceptions.

Cayuga will finish its season next week when it hosts the Grapeland Sandies.

Cayuga 14 7 7 8 7 43

Alto 7 7 14 8 0 36

Cayuga: Malcome Kennedy 21-yard pass to Traylon Shead, Melvin Shead kick.

Alto: Javante Jones 8-yard pass to Josh Randuloph. Rowdy Wilson kick.

Cayuga: Kennedy 43-yard pass to to Billy Duncan, Shead kick.

Cayuga: Duncan 26-yard pass to Kennedy, Shead kick.

Alto: Jones 61-yard pass to Jordan Shaw, Wilson kick.

Alto: Jones 11-yard run, Wilson kick.

Cayuga: Kennedy 48-yard pass to Shead, Shead kick.

Alto: D’Marcus Tyler 9-yard run, Wilson kick.

Cayuga: Kennedy 4-yard run, Kennedy run.

Alto: Jones 1-yard run, Jones to Randuloph pass.

Cayuga: Kennedy 16-yard pass to Duncan, Shead kick.

First downs: Cayuga 19

Alto 13

Rushing: Cayuga 40-221

Alto 32-136

Passing: Cayuga 8-12-0

Alto 8-16-3

Passing yards: Cayuga 149

Alto 146

Penalties: Cayuga 10-92

Alto 8-60

Fumbles: Cayuga 1-1

Alto 1-2

Rushing: Cayuga Shead 18-113, Kennedy 22-108. Alto Jones 25-114

Receiving: Shead 2-69, Duncan 4-62, Kennedy 1-26, Sha’keal Jenkins 1—8.