Jamestown’s Jaylen Butera is tackled by a pair of South Park defenders during Friday’s Section VI Class A championship game at Strider Field in Jamestown. P-J photo by Tim Frank

Jamestown football coach Tom Langworthy stood at the goal line at one end of Strider Field late Friday night and greeted each one of the seniors on his roster.

Hugs were exchanged.

Quiet words were shared.

And eyes were moist.

One-hundred yards away, in the other end zone, the South Park players celebrated like there was no tomorrow.

Takye Branch runs away from South Park's Parrell Fulgham during Friday's Section VI Class A championship game at Strider Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

Because in this crazy season — brought on by a global pandemic — there won’t be, at least on the high school gridiron.

That being the case, what a game to end on.

Senior Keith Jackson rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns, including a 15-yarder and the deciding 2-point conversion in overtime, to send the Sparks to a heart-stopping 30-29 victory over the Red Raiders in the Section VI Class A championship contest.

Jackson also returned a third-quarter interception 86 yards for another TD, a week after doing a little bit of everything in South Park’s one-point victory over Grand Island in the semifinal. In tandem with junior teammate Parrell Fulgham (19 carries, 127 yards and one touchdown), they provided the Sparks (6-0) with a one-two punch that was just enough to get past Jamestown.

The Red Raiders, who received another brilliant performance by junior Jaylen Butera (he rushed for 255 yards on 32 carries and one touchdown, and had a 46-yard TD pass on a halfback option), finished the season 6-1.

Colin Melendez celebrates after a 19-yard touchdown catch from Trey Drake in the third quarter against South Park during Friday's Section VI Class A championship game at Strider Field. P-J photo by Tim Frank

“It was a great game,” Langworthy said. “The kids fought. Both teams have high standards and both wanted this very bad. You could tell from early on it was going to be a dogfight.”

Jamestown led, 7-6, at intermission, but both teams were just getting warmed up for a second half that will be remembered for a long time.

Jamestown scored on its first drive of the third quarter on sophomore quarterback Trey Drake’s 19-yard pass to sophomore Colin Melendez. When Ella Propheter booted the second of her three successful point-after attempts, the Red Raiders led, 14-6, with 9:30 remaining in the third quater.

But Fulgham’s 21-yard burst — he followed with a successful 2-point conversion — pulled South Park into a 14-14 tie with 4:20 remaining in the period. The Red Raiders responded with a drive that took them inside the Sparks’ 20-yard line, but Jackson stepped in front of a Drake pass at the 14 and returned it for a score. Fulgham’s second 2-point conversion run of the period put South Park in front, 22-14, with just over a minute left in the period.

“They have a line that gets some movement on the line of scrimmage and they’ve got good backs,” Langworthy said. “Both were really tough and they were able to break some tackles and get some yards after contact, and I think that was a big piece of the game.”

The momentum returned to the Red Raiders midway through the fourth quarter when Takye Branch, who caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Drake in the first quarter, blocked a punt and, one play later, Butera connected with senior Elijah Rojas on a 46-yard touchdown pass. Drake found Rojas on the 2-point conversion to tie the game, 22-22, with 6:35 remaining in regulation.

The Sparks responded with a drive that took them deep into Jamestown territory, but when backup quarterback Mike Pajak’s threw into the end zone on third down from the 22-yard line, Red Raider senior Markell Carter made a spectacular one-handed interception that gave Jamestown possession. Starting at the South Park 20 with 5:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, Jamestown called on Butera, and the 6-foot-2, 192-pounder delivered, carrying the ball six times for 57 yards before the drive stalled at the Sparks’ 9.

Langworthy called on Propheter, a freshman, for a 26-yard field goal attempt, but the kick hit the cross bar, leaving the score tied, 22-22, with 1:22 remaining. South Park took over possession and ran five plays before time expired, sending the game to overtime.

The Sparks won the toss and elected to defer, giving the Red Raiders posssession at the 20-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Butera ran twice for 7 yards and then Drake connected with Rojas on an 11-yard completion, setting up a first down at the 2. Butera lost his footing for no gain, but then he took a direct snap on the next play and found the end zone. Propheter’s extra-point kick gave Jamestown a 29-22 lead.

South Park wasted little time on its OT possession.

Jackson ran for 5 yards on first down and then bolted for 15 more and the score that pulled the Sparks to within a point. On the 2-point try, he found the end zone yet again and the celebration was on for the young men from Buffalo.

It was a decidedly different mood for the Red Raiders, but when Langworthy completed his postgame moments with the seniors, he found Butera and Drake waiting at the end of the line.

In three months, that duo will be among the returnees for the fall 2021 season.

“We’ll take a couple weeks off and get back to work,” Langworthy said. ” … It was that close. Competitors don’t always win, competitors always compete. We competed. I’m proud of our guys. We’re a little numb right now, but all you can do is your best. I know the kids gave their best, the coaches gave their best and that’s all you can do.”

NOTES: Drake finished 14 of 27 for 118 yards and two touchdowns; and Branch had six catches for 68 yards, Rojas had five receptions for 66 yards, and Melendez had two grabs good for 30 yards. … Butera had 12 tackles to lead the Red Raiders defense, followed by Jadiel Johnson with 11, Branch with nine, Cam’ron Mays with eight, and Carter and Drayce Garland seven apiece. …. Garland also had an interception. … South Park’s first touchdown came in the first quarter when senior quarterback Mykell Hepburn scored on a 7-yard run, but he was ejected from the game in the second quarter.

South Park 6 0 16 0 8 — 30

Jamestown 7 0 7 8 7 — 29

Jam–Branch 38 pass from Drake (Propheter kick)

Sou–Hepburn 7 run (pass fail)

Jam–Melendez 19 pass from Drake (Propheter kick)

Sou–Fulgham 21 run (Fulgham run)

Sou–Jackson 86 interception return (Fulgham run)

Jam–Rojas 46 pass from Butera (Propheter kick)

Jam–Butera 2 run (Propheter kick)

Sou–Jackson 15 run (Jackson run)