CLINTON – A foot short and a point short. That’s how close Briarfield Academy came to pulling off a shocking upset in the MPSA Class A championship game Thursday afternoon at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

Craig LeBeau’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Jamie Fortenberry pulled Briarfield to within 28-27 of heavily favored Trinity Episcopal with 1 minute, 55 seconds left in the game. Rebels coach Lance Prine opted to go for the 2-point conversion, rather than a tying PAT kick. Given that Trinity’s LSU-bound tailback Stevan Ridley had rushed for 308 yards to this point, it was a good decision.

The play, however, was a dive to Hall Schneider and Trinity’s defense did what it had done most of the game – it stuffed the run. Schneider came within a foot of a successful 2-pointer and the lead.

Briarfield (11-3) still had a chance at an onside kick, but the Rebels’ cross-up kick squirted just out of bounds before Stephen Landreneau could secure it. Trinity (12-2) ran out the remaining time to clinch its third state championship, and the second under coach David King.

&#8220We didn’t want to go to overtime with them,” Prine said. &#8220We had a good play called. We had some miscommunication and I take the blame for that. What we ran was an outside veer.”

Fortenberry, who lined up behind center after catching the 24-yard TD pass to set up the conversion, said the original call was for him to roll out and have an option to run or pass.

&#8220We were going to run a rollout pass, but I was told, if they give us dive, take the dive. I thought Hall was in,” Fortenberry said.

King said he wasn’t surprised by Prine’s decision to go for the win.

&#8220I don’t disagree with Lance’s call one bit. Briarfield is a bunch of warriors and I felt he would go for two in that situation,” King said. &#8220Our defense was ready.”

Ridley carried the ball a staggering 50 times and, despite his yardage total, only had three runs longer than 20 yards.

&#8220I think we surprised them. A lot of people were saying Trinity was going to beat us 50-0 because of Ridley,” Fortenberry said. &#8220I’m proud of all of our seniors.”

The game got off to a quick start with both teams scoring within the first two minutes. Trinty’s R.J. Fleming ran back the opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown. A botched snap on the PAT kick forced Trinity to pass and it was stopped, leaving the score at 6-0.

Briarfield answered with Jon Jon Taylor catching a deflection in mid-air and rumbling 73 yards for the first of his three touchdown receptions. Stephen Hernandez’s kick made it 7-6 with 10:01 left in the first quarter.

Briarfield went back in front on its next series when Ridley ripped off a 41-yard run to set up a 1-yard plunge from Parker Brumfield. The try for two failed, leaving the score at 12-7. LeBeau then tossed a 10-yard TD pass to Taylor with 40.6 seconds left in the first half to put Briarfield back in front, 14-12.

After stopping Briarfield on its first possession of the second half, the Saints went 79 yards in 13 plays. Ridley carried it 10 times on the drive for 68 yards, the last a 3-yard TD run. He then hit Wells Middleton for the 2-point conversion that made it 20-14 with 4:49 left in the third.

Briarfield answered again, retaking the lead at 21-20 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter when Fortenberry went to Taylor for a 9-yard TD pass.

It was more Ridley in the fourth quarter. He carried the ball all 11 plays for 74 yards, getting his touchdown on a 2-yard run. He added the two-point conversion for a 28-21 lead with 7:02 remaining.

Briarfield reached the Saints’ 22 on its next drive, but a fourth-down pass from LeBeau fell incomplete.

Trinity, though, took a big gamble, going for it on fourth-and-1 from its own 30 with three minutes to go. The snap was fumbled and the Rebels took over on downs at the Trinity 27.

On fourth down LeBeau, who was 9-of-19 for 117 yards, hit Fortenberry on a post for the game’s final touchdown with 1:55 left.