DANVILLE — Trailing 19-14, the Danville Hawks had 70 yards and 3:36 left to rescue their playoff hopes here Friday night, but disaster turned those hopes into tears.

Senior Dustin Sanders snatched a pass from the Hawks receiver and, with his coach yelling at him to lay down, he raced 50 yards for the touchdown that sealed a 26-14 victory for previously winless Cordova.

“It’s a great way to get my first interception,” Sanders said. “I just went over the guy to get the ball and then I got an escort of lead blockers.”

The loss drops Danville to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in Class 3A, Region 7. The Hawks needed the win to stay in the hunt for a fourth seed in the region.

“As long as we won, we controlled our own destiny,” Danville head coach Scott Curd said. “But we can’t focus on the playoffs. We have to focus on getting ourselves better for next week.”

Danville grabbed an early 7-0 lead on a 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Morgan to Dallas McAbee, but Cordova controlled the ball for most of the second and third quarters. Two fumbles and a sack on fourth down deep in Hawks’ territory spoiled three drives.

Andrew Minor had an 18-yard touchdown run and Chase Trotter’s 24-yard scoring toss to Klint Rowe gave Cordova a 12-7 halftime lead.

Cordova stayed deep in Danville territory for most of the second half. The Hawk defense finally gave into the pressure when Charles Woods followed a 23-yard run with a 16-yard scoring burst to push the lead up to 19-7.

The game was not over, Danville returned the short kickoff to midfield. Five plays later, Morgan hit Travis Turrentine with a 30-yard touchdown pass. Brock Garrison hit the extra point and Danville was within five with 5:06.

The Hawks were unsuccessful with an onside kick, but the defense forced a punt. Sanders’ interception then spoiled any comeback ideas.

“That win is a big load off the boys’ back and the coaches’ backs,” said Cordova coach Woody Smothers, a former Austin High assistant. “We’re not used to being 0 and whatever here at Cordova. But our kids kept working, and it’s a big win.”

Scoring

First

Danville: Dallas McAbee 70 pass from Justin Morgan (Brock Garrison kick)

Second

Cordova: Andrew Minor 18 run (2 point no good)

Cordova: Klint Row 24 pass from Chase Trotter (2 point no good)

Fourth

Cordova: Charles Woods 16 run (Stephen Kilpatrick kick)

Danville: Travis Turrentine 30 pass from Morgan (Garrison kick)

Cordova: Dustin Sanders 50 int return (Kilpatrick kick)

Danville

First: 7

Rushing: 65

Passing: 187

Passes: 14/26/187 Int-2, TD-1

Total yards: 252

Penalties: 4/20

Punt: 3/20.5 avg

Cordova

First: 12

Rushing: 258

Passing: 31

Passes: 4/7/TD-1

Total yards: 289

Penalties: 3/20

Punt: 6/26 avg.