Drayton was referring to the series of events that began in the final three minutes with the score tied at 20 and Central appearing to be driving toward the go-ahead score.
With the ball at the Northeast 28-yard line, Hakeem Ellis lofted an option pass toward the end zone, but it was picked off on the 1-yard line by the Vikings' Marvin Edwards.
Northeast, which hadn't lost to Central since their traditional Thanksgiving Day game in 2004, moved the ball to its 8 in two plays. Then, Central's Joseph Shepherd stripped the ball loose from a Northeast player and ran 15 yards for the winning TD.
It was the second time the junior linebacker had come up big during the game. Just before halftime, he blocked a field-goal attempt by Northeast's Howard Lynn that would have cut the Vikings' deficit to 20-15.
"I wanted to get the ball no matter what," Shepherd said of his theft.
"It's been so long since we'd beaten them. It was exhilarating running with the ball," added Shepherd, who had never scored a touchdown in his career.
Northeast 0 12 8 0 - 20
Central 14 6 0 8 - 28
C: Richard Drayton 25 pass from Ryan Dydak (Hakeem Ellis run)
C: Drayton 45 pass from Dydak (run failed)
C: Walt Pegues 38 pass from Dydak (pass failed)
N: Devon Dillard 49 pass from Harold Alexander (kick blocked)
N: Dillard 41 pass from Alexander (run failed)
N: Marvin Edwards 3 run (Edwards run)
C: Joseph Shepherd 15 with fumble (Drayton pass from Dydak)
Germantown 32, Lincoln 27 - Myles Brooker's 15-yard TD reception from Cedric Wright in the fourth quarter gave host Germantown (5-4) the Class AAAA quarterfinal win over Lincoln (6-3).
Aaron Boyd ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Wright passed for 137 yards and three TDs, and Devon Smith led the Bears' defense with eight tackles.
Lincoln 14670-27
Germantown 61466-32
G: Ackeno Robertson 80 run (run failed)
L: Marquise McFarland 3 run (Amir Albarouki kick)
L: Marquise McFarland 2 run (Amir Albarouki kick)
G: Aaron Boyd 21 run (Myles Brooker pass from Cedric Wright)
G: Ackeno Robertson 17 run (pass failed)
L: Durell Dixon 28 pass from Miguel Sanchez (kick failed)
G: Will Parks 59 pass from Cedric Wright (run failed)
L: Miguel Sanchez 1 run (Amir Albarouki kick)
G: Myles Brooker 15 pass from Cedric Wright (pass failed)
Contact staff writer Don Beideman at 267-815-9733 or dbeideman@phillynews.com.
