Just as it appeared Hammond was on the verge of springing its own October surprise, Covington’s Otis Jacobs cast his ballot.

Jacobs returned a muffed punt 91 yards for a touchdown with 1:39 remaining to give the Lions a 21-16 District 6-5A victory over the winless Tornadoes on Friday night at Jack Salter Stadium.

“I’m just speechless,” said Jacobs, who also is Covington’s starting safety. “I was running as fast as I could to get to the end zone.

CHS'€™ Otis Jacobs (17) returns a punt return for a touchdown with under two minutes to play in Friday'€™s district victory over the Hammond Tornadoes. Jacobs'€™ return sparked the Lions to a 21-16 victory. CHS'€™ George Horstmann (11) raises the No. 1 sign as he trails the return. (Photo by Mike McCall)

“I was thinking that we needed to make a play. I had good blocking from the punt return team.”

Jacobs’ return, however, did not come without controversy. Hammond coach Rusty Barrilleaux said one of his players contends that he pushed Jacobs, who tiptoed down the Covington sideline on the play, out of bounds.

But the officiating crew, which was down one member in the second half because an illness forced one of the officials to depart at halftime.

“My kid told me, ‘Coach I pushed him out of bounds,’” Barrilleaux.

“I’ve never been more proud of my team,” the coach added. “I don’t’ care what the scoreboard says. The scoreboard means nothing to me.

“These kids played their hearts out and after all they’ve been through this year, they proved they are a good team.”

Covington’s victory tied the Lions with Mandeville and Northshore for first place in District 6-5 as all three have 3-1 records in district competition.

The Lions (4-2 overall) survived four turnovers, two each by quarterback Tyler Scott and running back Phillip Bickham.

Scott, who completed just one pass in the second half, threw two interceptions, and Bickham fumbled twice.

Scott finished 7-of-15 for 73 yards and two touchdowns but was 1-of-4 in the second half for just five yards with the two picks.

Bickham had 97 yards on 24 carries.

Hammond, which has struggled offensively throughout the season, finished with 228 total yards, 213 on the ground. Torian Weber had 130 yards on three carries and one touchdown but was held to 32 yards in the second half.

“We can’t wait until 1:50 is left to make a big play,” Covington coach Malter Scobel said. “Give all the credit to Hammond. They kicked our butts.

“They beat us. We just won on the scoreboard.”

And at the gaming table. Facing a fourth-and-three at the Tors’ 44-yard line early in the third quarter, Scobel called for a fake punt and punter Matthew McCormick responded with a 29-yard run to the Hammond 15.

Three plays later, Scott connected with David Mizell on a 5-yard scoring pass to the back of the end zone to trim Covington’s deficit to 16-14 with 5:41 left in the period.

“I did it a few times last year when I wasn’t supposed to so I was excited the play was called,” said McCormick, who eluded one Tornado defender rushing in on his left side before taking off. “Everybody did a great job of blocking. All of the credit goes to them.“

“It’s something we work on every week,” Scobel said. “We called a time out before the play and decided we might as well take a gamble.”

The drive was set up by Kyle Crouch’s interception deep inside Lions territory.

Hammond led 16-7 at the half, its first of the season, and was on the verge of breaking it open early in the third quarter when Tyler August intercepted a Scott pass and returned the ball 10 yards to the Lions 14.

Two plays later, however, Crouch plucked a tipped ball off of the hands of the Tors’ Demarius Maryland and returned the ball to the Hammond 4-yard line.

Although a penalty nullified the long return, Covington took possession at its 49-yard line.

“Thank God he tipped it,” Crouch said. “I would not have gotten it. I was hoping to score but we scored anyway.”

The Tors missed an opportunity to run out the clock after T.J. Ponds stripped Bickham of the ball at the Hammond 3-yard line with 5:15 left to play. But the Tors managed one first down and were forced to kick.

Hammond quarterback Trevor Ragan, who completed one pass in eight attempts for 15 yards, fumbled on the Tors final possession.

“This was a huge win for us,” Jacobs said. “Our back was up against the wall. This puts us in the district race.”

The Tors took their first lead of the season on their initial drive, the payoff coming on Weber’s four-yard run with 9:09 left in the first quarter. Weber had 48 yards on the drive, which covered 66 yards on seven plays.

However, the extra point attempt failed because of a low snap.

The Lions quickly responded with an 80-yard, 8-play drive that culminated on Scott’s 25-yard scoring toss to Eddie Pea. He caught the pass in the flat and broke two tackles on the way to the end zone.

Spencer Graham’s successful PAT gave the Lions a 7-6 lead with 5:43 left in the first quarter.

Hammond regained the lead on Justin Betts’ 4-yard run with 10:32 left in the second quarter. Betts’ run capped a 5-play, 52-yard drive. Weber had runs of 16 and 23 yards, the latter carrying to the Covington 4-yard line. Brandon Thomas’ PAT gave the Tors a 13-7 lead.

Hammond’s Gerbig Kinney recovered a Bickham fumble on the Lions ensuing possession, setting up the Tors at the Covington 36-yard line.

A crucial illegal shift penalty nullified a Weber run that had carried to the Covington 3-yard line, forcing the Tors to settle for Thomas’ 25-yard field that gave Hammond a 16-7 lead.