Defending champion Gretna thwarts Essex

GRETNA - As the Gretna Hawks celebrated a fourth-down stop with 9 seconds left in the game, Essex junior quarterback Lyndon Garner sat at the 11-yard line dejected and measuring the 6 yards that he needed for a first down to give the Trojans a last chance to beat Gretna.

It was a broken play that forced Garner to escape the pocket and try to make a play out of nothing, and it resulted in a 45-40 loss to the defending state champions in the Group A, Division 2 playoffs.

Essex, which scored the most points against the Hawks this season and amassed 550 yards of offense, was dealt its first loss and an exit from the state playoffs.

The Trojans (12-1) did not let the Hawks blow them out early after Gretna (12-1) scored two touchdowns in the first five minutes to take a 12-0 lead.

Garner hooked up with wide receiver Devante Baker four times for 188 yards and a touchdown, as the 5-11 wideout took advantage of Gretna's smaller defensive backs to grab lob passes for huge gains.

Garner finished 12 of 22 passing for 253 yards and two touchdowns, the second one to tight end Danzell Gaines. Garner also rushed for 36 yards and a score.
Playoff glance, summaries, Page D11