Momentum shifted to the visiting team in the third quarter of Friday night’s FHSAA Class 6A-Region 1 Final.

But then Buchholz put the ball in the hands of senior Justin Williams.

The University of Florida commit scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the No. 1 seed Bobcats rallied past No. 2 seed Mandarin (Jacksonville), 27-20, to advance to the state semifinals.

It will be the Bobcats’ fifth straight final four appearance.

“It feels great,” Williams said. “This is a familiar spot for us, and we know what it’s going to take to get over the hump. We played really, really well tonight and I feel like we really played as a team. We showed everybody what we can do.”

It was also the 100th career win for Buchholz head coach Mark Whittemore, who made it a point to single out his star senior.

“Number 13 was incredibly special, I mean, he single-handedly took us under his wing and shepherded us to the finish line,” Whittemore said. “I cannot say enough about him. He is not your ordinary, four-star Gator commit. He is a special human being, and so I want to take a special moment here to recognize what this kid is all about, his selflessness, his relentless pursuit of a win.”

Buchholz (12-1) had a 13-0 lead at the half on a pair of field goals by Army-bound kicker Jay Giunta (30 and 22 yards), and a 24-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Josh Menefee.

However, the Mustangs (11-2) took the second half kick and marched 80 yards on 16 plays, capping the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run by junior running back Shaunqueze Foster on 4th-and-1.

Senior kicker Ermin Mehmedovic’s extra point made it 13-7 with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter.

It appeared as if the Bobcats had answered on its next drive, but a 46-yard scoring pass from sophomore quarterback Andrew Whittemore to sophomore running back Ashton Norris was called back due to a block in the back.

On the next play, Whittemore was sacked and fumbled, and Mandarin’s Keisean Douglas scooped it up and returned it 40 yards down to the 1-yard line.

“We had the utter wrong play called when they scooped up that fumble from our quarterback and took it to the house, literally, completely on us,” Mark Whittemore said. “Shame on us for calling that play, but we were able to rebound, hold our water.”

Junior Kyree Wilson scored on the next play from a yard out and the extra point gave Mandarin its first lead of the game, 14-13, with 2:49 to play in the third quarter.

Buchholz answered, but with a little help.

Mandarin appeared to have made a stop and was one play away from a 3-and-out when the Mustangs jumped offsides on a punt, giving the Bobcats new life.

From there, Williams ran for 10, 16, and 11 yards, followed by a 4-yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion pass failed but Buchholz reclaimed the lead, 19-14, with 9:26 to play in the game.

The Mustangs punched back, marching 80 yards on six plays, highlighted by a 50-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Knox Annis to senior wide receiver Tian Wyche down to the Bobcats’ 5-yard line.

Two plays later, Foster punched it in on a 3-yard run. The 2-point pass play failed, but Mandarin was back in front, 20-19, with 7:28 remaining.

The Bobcats quickly seized the momentum on a 53-yard kickoff return by sophomore Marquel Brooks down to the Mandarin 37-yard line.

“That was a massive return,” Mark Whittemore said. “That was a big turning point in the game right there. That was huge.”

On the second play from scrimmage, Williams, who had over 100 yards rushing in the second half, raced down the middle of the field 38 yards for the go-ahead score with 6:28 to play.

“Putting it in his hands strategically and with the right play call because it’s not as simple as just putting it in his hands,” Mark Whittemore said. “However, when we couple some wisdom in our play calls with his ability, it’s a pretty tough thing to stop.”

They had a trick play up their sleeve for the 2-point conversion as the ball was snapped to Menefee, who pitched it to Williams, who threw it in the end zone to Whittemore.

“Philly special,” Mark Whittemore said. “That was a two-point play of ours that we had dialed up and doggone it if we didn’t get the chance to do it.”

Instead of a five, or six-point lead with an extra point, the Bobcats held a 7-point lead.

“At first, I was just going to run it in myself because I didn’t feel too confident to throw, but I saw him, he was open,” Williams said. “I was almost a little late on it, but luckily it got in there.”

Mandarin was backed up at its own 13-yard line and Buchholz forced a 3-and-out. The Bobcats were able to run out the final 5:27 on the clock to win its 11th straight game.

After four straight state semifinal losses, Buchholz will get another opportunity at home next Friday against West Boca Raton, which defeated Mitchell (New Port Richey), 41-3, in the Region 3 Final.

“Our mindset is, let’s finish,” Mark Whittemore said. “We’ll give every ounce of effort required for that and try to get our bumps and bruises iced up and situated, and hopefully we’re able to do that.”

FHSAA football playoffs – Friday, Nov. 28

Class Rural State Semifinals
2 Hawthorne 36, 3 Chiefland 6

Class 2A-Region 2 Final
3 Cocoa 17, 1 Bradford (Starke) 10

Class 6A-Region 1 Final
1 Buchholz 27, 2 Mandarin (Jacksonville) 20