By Tommy Keeler Jr. -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — Brentsville's Chris Spinks knew he had to make a play.

After getting beat on two pass plays earlier in the game, the senior wanted to make up for it. He picked the perfect time.

Spinks blocked a Ryan Molka field goal on the final play of regulation to force overtime, and the Tigers went on to beat the Wildcats 20-14 in Northwestern District action Thursday night.

The game was moved to Thursday in anticipation of heavy rain today.

With 2.6 seconds left in regulation, Spinks penetrated the backfield untouched and blocked the 26-yard field goal attempt that would have given the victory to the Wildcats.

"I knew it was my time to shine," Spinks said. "I knew I had to step up. I came off the ball, and as soon as I did, I knew I was going to get it."

The Wildcats had the ball first in overtime and immediately hurt themselves with a penalty. After a Marty Haley carry, they were called for unsportsmanlike conduct, with the ball moving back to the Brentsville 22-yard line.

Warren County quarterback Austin Schwarz threw to a wide-open Rakeem Shuler in the end zone on second down, but Shuler couldn't hang on to the ball.

Schwarz connected with Damien Caison for a 12-yard completion on third down, setting up fourth-and-goal from the Brentsville 10. The Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) decided to go for the score, but Schwarz's pass to Haley went through his fingertips.

It took Brentsville (1-3, 1-0 Northwestern) only two plays to end the game, as Tigers sophomore David Hammond scored from seven yards out.

"It feels damn good," Brentsville coach Dean Reedy said. "We've played good ball. We just need to finish games. This was a good way to finish it."

The game was full of big plays, especially on special teams. The Tigers started off the game with a squib kick that bounced off a Warren County player and was recovered by kicker Nick Newman at the Warren County 39.

The Tigers used eight plays to score the first points, as Brentsville quarterback P.J. Borko finished off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with 8:01 left in the opening quarter.

"Offense is what puts butts in the seats, defense wins games, but the kicking game wins championships," Reedy said. "We missed some plays in the kicking game, but we also set ourselves up to score in the kicking game."

On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers did it again. Another squib kick bounced off a Warren County player and was recovered by the Tigers at the Wildcats' 39.

The Wildcats' defense stiffened and forced a Brentsville punt. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Schwarz connected with a wide-open Japeth Chunn for a 53-yard completion to the Brentsville 27.

Three plays later, Haley tied the game at 7-7 on a 13-yard touchdown run.

After forcing a three-and-out, Warren County's James Baude took the punt at the Warren County 22 and raced down the sideline and, after a block from Chunn, cut back to the left, and then bounced into the end zone for a 14-7 lead with 3:14 left in the opening quarter.

"James did a great job finding the wall and we had some great blocking," Warren County coach Tony Tallent said.

The Tigers tied up the game late in the first half. Brentsville took advantage of great field position and started its drive at the Warren County 27. The Tigers needed only four plays to score. Brentsville senior Philip Johnson ran it in from 17 yards out to tie the game with 3:31 left in the opening half.

Both teams had opportunities in the second half, but neither could convert.

"Both teams made mistakes, but they take took advantage of ours," Tallent said. "Their kids played hard. They played well."

Johnson finished with 112 yards on 23 carries, while Hammond added 65 yards on 16 carries for Brentsville.

"We knew we had to step it up tonight," Spinks said. "We knew it was time to play Brentsville football."

The Tigers held Haley to only 87 yards on 26 carries. Schwarz was 4-for-16 passing for 114 yards. He also ran for 27 yards on four carries.

"Anytime you lose in overtime it's tough," Tallent said. "The kids never gave up. They played hard."

The Wildcats drop to 0-2 in the district and things won't get any easier for them. They host James Wood next week, while Brentsville hosts Millbrook.

*Contact Tommy Keeler Jr. at tkeeler@nvdaily.com