Never say never.
Like ever.
That was the mantra for Williams Field Friday night in a Week 1 battle against Brophy that turned into an instant classic.
The Black Hawks pulled off a miraculous come back to knock off the host Broncos, 35-34, in a 6A season opener at Central High.
Williams Field trailed 34-20 late in the fourth quarter before Cameron Cooke, running back Dylan Lee and backup quarterback Xavier Buckles engineered 15 points in the most dramatic fashion possible.
“We just don’t give up and we always trust in each other,” an exasperated Lee said afterward.

"I love this football program and everything about it."

Williams Field and Brophy combined for 69 points and nearly 800 yards of offense.

Lee contributed to 171 of those yards on the ground. But it was the final moments of the game that made it memorable.

Trailing 34-27, Williams Field took possession at its own one yard line with 2:01 left in the game. On third down from their own three yard line, the play of the game took place—albeit unexpectedly.

Brophy defensive back Dominic Mitchell stepped in front of pass intended for Cameron Cooke and picked it off near the 15-yard line.

At this moment the game was over by all means...except it wasn't.

As Mitchell headed toward the end zone for what appeared to be the game clinching play for Brophy, Cooke kept chasing Mitchell, and eventually punched the ball out towards the end zone. No one could recover before the ball rolled through the end zone, resulting in a touchback in Williams Field's favor.

Instead of a game winning interception, Cooke's hustle gave Williams Field a 17-yard net gain and possession at the 20-yard line.

Dylan Lee reflected on the impact of Cooke's hustle.

"That was special,” Lee said. “The play of the game has to be Cameron Cooke punching that ball out for a touchback. It allowed us to do our thing."

In that same sequence that kept the game alive for Williams Field, it also saw its starting quarterback go down with an injury.

Enter Xavier Buckles.

The junior calmly stepped in and delivered a 40-yard strike to Cooke, and suddenly the game that was just wrapped up was still alive and kicking.

Two plays later, just inside the 20-yard line of Brophy, Buckles scrambled under pressure before zigzagging his way to the end zone on a courageous run that pulled Williams Field within one point (35-34).

Williams Field then lined up for an extra point to tie the game, but took a timeout and eventually decided to go for a two-point conversion.

More chaos ensued.

Lee took a pitch to the right side and appeared to be stopped but, at the last moment, lateralled the ball to Cooke, who was at the goal line and took it into the end zone.

However, referees seemed to call the play dead to address penalty flags that were thrown. No touchdown signal was made.

After approximately 15 seconds, the flag was waved and Williams Field players began jumping in celebration. The two-point conversion was good.

Williams Field had pulled off a miracle and led 35-34 with 24 seconds left.

It would be the final score.

Brophy players and fans stood in shock as a victory in hand was pulled out from underneath, giving them a reminder of last season's bitter taste with so many close losses.

Brophy quarterback Chris Mcginnis didn't shy from questions afterward.

"We're older, more experienced and better. We've just got to finish," he said.