Wylie's passing attack outlasts Commerce, 29-28
09/14/2002
COMMERCE – The Commerce offense made several big plays, but Wylie made the biggest.
Stephen Pearce's 8-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Jones with 39 seconds remaining lifted Wylie, ranked No. 6 in The News' Class 4A poll, to a 29-28 victory at Memorial Stadium.
The touchdown capped an impressive 80-yard drive in just under three minutes. Pearce, the area's leading Class 4A passer, completed 9-of-11 passes on the final drive.
Commerce, ranked No. 2 in The News' Class 3A poll, saw its comeback attempt fall short on an interception by Jones with five seconds left.
Pearce showed pinpoint accuracy all night, completing 31-of-41 passes for 307 yards against a Commerce defense that consistently ranks among the best in the area.
Pearce also led Wylie (3-0) in rushing, including a pair of first-half scores that put Wylie up by as many as 9 points in the second quarter.
Commerce (1-1) put itself in position to win when its ball-control rushing game broke free for two third-quarter touchdowns. The scores rallied Commerce from a 22-14 deficit to lead 28-22 late in the third quarter. Commerce had five plays of 40 yards or more, and Wylie's longest gain from scrimmage went for 32 yards.
Wylie kicker Brad Owings, who missed a third-quarter extra point, put the final kick through the uprights for the win.
Pearce picked apart the Commerce defense early. He completed his first 10 passes, including seven throws to five receivers on the first Wylie drive.
Wylie's short passing game spread the Commerce defense on the first possession, leading to a 73-yard drive and a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Pearce.
Commerce senior tailback Eddie Hines took a reverse 76 yards for a touchdown on the second snap of the game.
In the second quarter, Commerce wide receiver Trey Shaw completed a 55-yard pass to Chris Winston to the Wylie 15. But Hines lost a fumble on the next play, one of two Commerce turnovers in the quarter.