Jack Kimmel's Lakeville South football teammates often call him Jimmy in jest because of the late-night television host.
On Friday, Kimmel proved himself worthy of prime time. He split the uprights from 31 yards out with no time remaining for a 24-21 victory against rival Lakeville North.
"I lined it up, took a deep breath and exhaled," Kimmel said. "I looked up at the goalposts, looked down at the ball and I was ready. It was a great moment for me and my teammates."
No. 2 Lakeville South (3-0) set up Kimmel's dramatic finish with two key plays down the stretch. Trailing 21-14 and facing fourth down and 12 yards to go from near midfield, quarterback Gaven Dean hit junior running back Bo Bokman for a key first down.
"We just installed that play this week, and we had never run it before," Dean said. "And our number one wideout was sick tonight, so that was a random wide receiver running a random route. So that was kind of a miracle right there."
Bokman, a junior transfer from Bethlehem Academy in Faribault, managed an even bigger play later in the drive.
One play after a Lakeville North pass interference penalty, South cashed in with a 14-yard Bokman touchdown run.
Miracle No. 2 was a gift from No. 3 Lakeville North. The Panthers' plans to break the 21-21 deadlock never materialized. A fumbled snap put the ball in South's hands just 19 yards from the end zone with 50 seconds on the clock.
