The hook and ladder is a deception, desperation-based play used in the final seconds of a game. The concept is this: a wide receiver catches a pass, then immediately laterals the ball to a crossing receiver.
Unfortunately for Douglass, Potomac wide receiver Andre Hall, the recipient of the original pass, decided to take it himself.
The gamble paid off as Hall broke free for a 75 yard game-winning touchdown catch-and-run to lift Douglass to a 32-30 victory.
“This is unprecedented,” Potomac Coach Ronnie Crump told the Washington Post on Sunday. “His performance outweighs any receiver for Potomac in a long time. I can only take my hat off of him.”
The unique hook-and-ladder play wasn’t the only spectacular play made by Hall.
Hall scored on catches of 75, 45 and 80 yards prior to the game-winning touchdown. He finished with five catches for 308 yards.
For his efforts, Hall leads the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week.
Additional top performances from around the nation:
Lauren Offerman, girls cross country, Mountainview (Colorado).
A time of 19:10 was enough for Offerman to win the Class 4A Region 4 meet and qualify for the state meet. Offerman beat the second place finisher by two seconds, leading Mountainview to the regional title.
Dalton Von Kaenel, boys soccer, Eagan (Minnesota).
The senior was the last line of defense for the Wildcats and he stepped up in a big way. Von Kaenel recorded 12 saves as Eagan beat St. Paul Central 1-0 to advance to state. Two of those saves came in the deciding shootout.
Ty Agan, football, Blue Ridge (Texas).
Agan, a dual-threat quarterback, passed for 146 yards and two touchdowns. His performance on the ground was even better, adding 130 yards and three more scores to help pace Blue Ridge to a 34-13 victory over Bells. Blue Ridge is undefeated this season.
Adrian Parra, boys cross country, Kennedy (Maryland).
Parra posted a winning time of 16:34:9 at the 3A/2A/1A meet. The win was Parra’s second in a row.
Casen Conway, football, Centennial (Georgia).
Conway threw for 459 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-39 win over North Forswyth. Conway now has 2,007 passing yards this season.
Meghan Jolikko, girls field hockey, Middletown (Delaware).
It’s rare for a team to find itself in two straight overtime games. Thankfully, Middletown had Meghan Jolikko, who was absolutely clutch. Jolikko scored both game-winning goals—a 2-1 victory over Wilmington Friends on Monday and a 3-2 winner against William Penn on Wednesday.
“She’s a great leader, on and off the field,” Middletown coach Stefany Krygier said. “She’s a very strong, versatile player. She’s someone the team depends on. They know she’ll get the job done for us.”
Jamie Wood, girls volleyball, Satellite (Florida).
Wood was a standout performer for Satellite in two matches last week, combining for 55 kills, 18 digs, seven aces and a block in two matches last week. In a victory over Space Coast in five sets on Monday, Wood recorded 25 kills, 11 digs and seven aces. In a four-set loss to Rockledge, she tallied 30 kills, seven digs and a block.
Kevin Torres-Villa, boys soccer, Mishiwaka Marian (Indiana).
Mishiwaka Marian won two playoff games last week and Torres-Villa played a major part in helping his team secure the wins. The playmaker scored two goals in a 9-1 victory over Muncie Burris and then followed that up with two more goals in a 5-0 win. Torres-Villa has 20 goals on the season.
Lazarius Patterson, football, Oakland (Tennessee).
Patterson was dominant on the ground Friday night, rushing for 208 yards on 26 carries as Oakland beat Cookville 21-6. The running back scored on runs of 1, 4 and 56 yards.