NATCHEZ — With the clock running down and Natchez trailing Petal by four points, Bulldogs quarterback Javon Washington didn’t panic.

He had been in this exact situation before.

For the second consecutive year, Washington led the Bulldogs on a last-minute scoring drive against the Panthers, capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 35 seconds remaining to give Natchez a thrilling 19-17 victory in the first round of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs.

Last season, Washington scored on a 6-yard run on fourth down with a minute left to give the Bulldogs a 25-21 win. This year’s winning score was just as sweet for the junior quarterback.

“I did the same thing last year, so I had to do it again,” Washington said. “I’m a year older, so I’ve got to lead my offense like I’m supposed to. It was the same feeling as last year.”

Natchez High coach Lance Reed’s thoughts drifted back to last year’s game a little bit as well during the Bulldogs’ final drive.

“It felt like déj vu,” Reed said. “Getting down there on the goal line, having to get it in, and manning up and getting it in. Our offense did a heck of a job to have no turnovers and get the ball in the end zone on that crucial drive.”

While Washington’s touchdown gave Natchez the lead, Petal still had a chance to win the game in the final seconds.

After a late hit penalty and pass interference penalty on consecutive plays moved the ball to Natchez’s 37-yard line with three second left, Petal kicker Austin Franklin lined up for a 53-yard field goal.

However, his kick fell about five yards short and Natchez players poured onto the field to celebrate the comeback victory.

“I told my guys, we’re going to back up and see if they make it, and if they make it, it wasn’t meant for us to win,” Natchez coach Lance Reed said. “The Lord was definitely on our side tonight.”

Petal’s final gasp was indicative of the team’s play the entire night, Panthers coach Steve Buckley said.

“The guys responded to everything asked of them,” Buckley said of his players. “We had a lot of adversity tonight, from injuries to playing behind the chains because of holding calls that I don’t know for sure if they were holds or not. All the credit goes to Natchez. They are a great team.”

Petal looked like they were going to run away with the game in the first half, as the Panthers jumped out to a 14-0 lead riding the legs of quarterback Anthony Alford.

Alford rushed four times for 34 yards on Petal’s opening drive of the game, which was capped off by a 14-yard run from Maverick Parsons.

After the Panther defense stopped Natchez on downs inside the 20-yard line, the Petal offense and Alford went back to work.

The sophomore quarterback led Petal on a 11-play, 81-yard drive to pay dirt midway through the second quarter.

Alford rushed for 57 of the 81 yards. Jason Travis scored the touchdown on a 24-yard run on a reverse that gave Petal a 14-0 lead with 8:46 remaining in the first half.

However, the tone of the game would change late in the first half when Alford went down with an ankle injury.

The momentum seemed to shift on that moment, as Petal punted two plays later with 1:45 left in the half and Natchez quickly drove the field and scored on a Joel Davis 1-yard run with 27 seconds left until halftime to make the score 14-7.

“I think (Alford) going down with an injury deflated them a little bit and gave us a slight edge momentum wise,” Reed said. “Petal is a heck of a team. They had a big offensive line and an excellent quarterback that gave us problems in the first half.”

But Buckley said Alford’s injury didn’t affect his team that much.

“I don’t think that hurt us,” Buckley said. “Our quarterback is not a one-man team. I thought we responded to the adversity.”

Natchez continued its comeback in the second half, as the Bulldogs went on a long scoring drive that ended when Davis plunged in from a yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter.

However, a bad snap on the extra point attempt kept the score at 14-13.

Petal’s offense then attempted to put the game away, as the Panthers went on an over six-minute drive.

The drive finally stalled at the 5-yard line but kicker Zakk Butler booted a 22-yard field goal to extend Petal’s lead to 17-13 with 5:43 remaining.

After the kickoff, Natchez took over at its own 36. That’s when Washington went to work.

The junior quarterback completed 5-of-7 passes for 42 yards, including two critical third down completions to Kevin Bailey.

Washington also ran for 12 yards, including the final score with 35 seconds left.

“Javon is in his third year at quarterback leading this team,” Reed said. “He really understands what his role is, and did an excellent job.”

Reed said he was proud of his team in coming back from a 14-point deficit to get the win.

“That shows the maturity of our team. They’re growing up a little bit,” Reed said. “The more you play the game, the more you grow up and learn from your mistakes. We’ve had a great opportunity to learn from our mistakes, and continue to get better.”

Natchez High will face Ocean Springs on the road next week.