DALLAS: The Varsity Football team traveled to Bishop Dunne last night for the Cardinals second district game of the season.  After a quiet night on offense last week against Prestonwood, JPII exploded for 39 points and 496 yards in an 11 overtime thriller that saw the Cardinals win their first district game since 2009.  Tied 24-24 at the end of regulation, JPII and Bishop Dunne went back and forth until the Cardinals scored in the eleventh and sophomore DB Terrance Brooks defected a Falcon pass in the end zone to seal the win for JPII.  

The Falcons opened up scoring in the first half but the Cardinals answered back on the ensuing possession with an eleven play drive, capped off by a 12-yd touchdown pass from junior QB Grayson James (36-69, 383 yds, 3 TDs) to senior TE Donavon Johnson (6 rec, 63 yds, 1 TD).  JPII would take a 10-7 lead in the second quarter on a 37-yd FG from sophomore kicker Jackson Mata. 

Bishop Dunne would score first in the second half on a 50-yd pass to take 14-10 lead, followed by two possessions and two punts from each team.  The Cardinals took a 16-14 lead when junior RB Grant Robinson (28 carries, 122 yds, 1 TD) bulldozed his way into the end zone with 22 second remaining in the third quarter.  JPII put together another impressive drive that ended on a missed FG and Bishop Dunne scored three plays later on a 78-yd pass to take a 21-16 lead with just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter.  

JPII responded by putting together a six play, 75-yd scoring drive that took only 60 seconds as junior WR Jerand Bradley scored on a 25-yd post over the middle to give the Cardinals a 22-21 lead.  After a successful two point conversion from Robinson, JPII led 24-22 with six minutes remaining.  

Both teams would trade possessions again before the Falcons marched down the field with less than a minute remaining to punch home a short range FG to tie it up 24-24 as the clock expired. 

In overtime, both teams start with the ball on the opponents 25-yd line, and the Cardinals scored on the first play of the OT period as Bradley took a screen pass 25 yards for the score.  The Falcons answered back with a 5 yd TD pass of their own to knot it up at 31 apiece.  

In the second OT period, both defenses stepped up as Bishop Dunne was intercepted by Brooks and JPII's offense failed to convert on downs.  

The third OT featured another turnover on downs by the Cardinals and a missed FG from the Falcons to stay tied at 31-31.

Bishop Dunne would miss another FG in the fourth OT and the Cardinals were intercepted to send it to a fifth overtime. 

New TAPPS overtimes rules say that after four regular OT periods, teams will trade single play 2pt conversion tries from the 3-yd line in the ensuing OT periods.  In the 5th OT, both QBs passes fell incomplete to send it to a 6th overtime.

Both offenses got back on track in the sixth overtime, as Bishop Dunne scored first on a 3-yd pass and JPII answered back with a 3-yd reception from junior Shunte Nettles (4 rec, 36 yds) to make it 33-33 heading into the 7th OT.

JPII opened up the scoring in the seventh overtime as James and Bradley connected on a high fade in the corner of the end zone to go up 35-33, but the Falcons responded with a QB keeper of their own to re-tie the game at 35 all.  

Junior LB Max Mazur deflected a Bishop Dunne pass in the 8th OT to give the Cardinals a chance for a walkoff win but James was tripped up behind the line of scrimmage for a loss, sending the game to a ninth overtime period.

The Cardinals pass fell incomplete in the 9th OT but the JPII defense held strong as junior DB Trey Spann broke up the Falcon pass attempt to keep things tied at 35.

In the 10th overtime, Bishop Dunne scored first on a three yard run up the middle to take a 37-35 lead, but the Cardinals would not quit and James found Nettles again on a quick slant for the equalizer.

In the 11th and final OT period, Nettles and James connected a third time on a whip route to take a 39-37 lead, and the JPII defense held strong on the next play and Brooks broke up the  Falcon pass attempt at the goal line to secure the victory.

The win marks the first district win in a decade for the Cardinals, when JPII defeated former TAPPS district opponent Gainsville State School 41-2 in 2009.  JPII improves to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in district entering their bye week before heading back on the road next Friday to face district leaders Parish Episcopal.