By Jeff Odom
Steinbrenner halfback Kendall Pearcey would not be denied during the final home game of his high school career.
The Warriors (4-5) went blow for blow against Chamberlain, spoiling their opponent’s playoff aspirations in a 35-28 home win Nov. 2.
It was the third straight victory for Steinbrenner, which started the season 1-4.
“It was amazing,” said Pearcey, who finished with 227 total yards and four touchdowns. “It was my last game after being at Steinbrenner, and I knew I wanted to go out with a bang.”
Pearcey was an offensive force all night, compiling 107 receiving yards on four receptions, including a 65-yard catch just before halftime that tied the game 21-21.
The Chiefs (4-5) regained a lead 28-27 in the third quarter, but the Warriors clawed back to tie the game in the fourth.
Then, with the game on the line, Steinbrenner turned to Pearcey again.
The Warriors moved the ball from their own 25 to the Chiefs’ 4-yard line, eating up the clock with 12 plays. Quarterback Curtis Fitch handed it to the four-year starter, who ran in for the winning score with 1:13 left to play.
“I told (my team) before the game that I’m not walking off this field without winning,” Pearcey said. “They believed in me, I believed in them and we all gave it 110 percent on the field.”
The Chiefs made one last effort to tie it from Steinbrenner’s 25-yard with five seconds remaining, but failed with an incomplete pass.
