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Not after the Barons (4-5 overall, 2-3 Montgomery 4A West Division) mustered a potential program-changing night by defeating a Bulldog (7-2, 4-1) team whose only previous loss was to the defending state champions.

Not after Casey Fitzgerald connected on a 73-yard touchdown pass to Terrance James to give B-CC a late fourth-quarter lead and exact a blow to their former coach.

And not after a Senior Night when everyone in the eight-member class popped up in pressure situations to preserve a fourth-straight victory, while damaging Churchill's playoff chances.

Yet, somehow, Fitzgerald came up with some words.

"It was the most emotional I think I've ever played," said Fitzgerald, a senior, who had played his sophomore and junior seasons at B-CC under current Churchill coach Joe Allen. "It was exciting. It was the best game I've ever been a part of here. It was one I'm going to remember for the rest of my life."

If Fitzgerald was the only Baron who could find perspective in their fourth-straight victory, it was fitting. He shook off three interceptions and one of his most uneven performances to figure in every key B-CC play.

His final throw, a strike on third-and-3 from his own 27-yard line with his team trailing 13-12, came one play after he nearly threw his fourth interception. He also ran for two short touchdowns in the first half to give B-CC a 12-3 halftime lead, and helped his team keep its morale up after amassing 70 penalty yards and committing three turnovers after halftime.

Churchill could only turn those takeaways into Bryan Crutchfield's second field goal, making it 12-6 late in the third quarter, and Matt Risk's 22-yard touchdown catch from Alex Kantor that put the Bulldogs ahead 13-12 with 11 minutes, 13 seconds to play.

Kantor threw for 150 yards, 101 to Risk, but B-CC held Churchill's ground game to just 72 yards.

The Bulldogs will still clinch a playoff spot with a win at home next week against Whitman.

"We've played this hard before," said first-year B-CC coach Rich Noland, whose team now has a shot at its second .500 season this decade after an 0-5 start. "But what's been missing is the confidence that we could win the game regardless of what happens. Last week was a testament, and when they took the lead, 13-12, that was a testament. These kids will never, ever, ever give up."

It was more than just Fitzgerald, of course. Senior Matt Evans broke up several key passes, including one on fourth-and-5 from the B-CC 20 as Churchill tried to march in for the sealing score. Senior Chuck Banks ran for 52 gritty yards on 14 carries and plunged in for the 2-point conversion after James' touchdown reception. And James, with another catch of 41 yards, was easily the game's most dynamic player.

"It was something to see," said Evans, who watched from the line of scrimmage as James streaked into the end zone for the go-ahead score with 3:16 to play. "It was great. To give it to our old coach, it was tremendous."

But Fitzgerald led the head-butts after the final Churchill drive fizzled on B-CC's 28. Fitzgerald sold the hard count three plays later to draw a Churchill lineman offside, and Fitzgerald knelt on the ball the next play.

"I made some bad decisions and threw three interceptions," Fitzgerald said. "But when it came down to the last drive, I focused, kept my poise, and let it go."