DEJUAN JOHNSON

DIANA — Harmony shut down New Diana’s two-point conversion attempt in the closing seconds to hold on for a thrilling 42-41 win Friday.

Harmony (4-2) moved to 2-0 in District 11-3A Division II play while New Diana (4-1, 1-1) suffered its first defeat of the season, coming up inches short on the potential go-ahead two-point attempt with 12 seconds remaining.

In a back-and-forth battle, New Diana got the stop it needed and then covered 79 yards in 1:13 as freshman quarterback DeJuan Johnson threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Tavarus Williams that brought the Eagles to within one point of Harmony.

New Diana opted to go for the win there with a two-point attempt instead of settling for overtime, but Harmony’s defense played assignment football on the two-point try and wasn’t fooled by the misdirection of New Diana’s reverse toss to a wide receiver.

Harmony was led by a 197-yard, three-touchdown performance from senior running back Evan Webber.

After the battle of Eagles started with each team scoring touchdowns on their opening possessions, New Diana’s defense came up with the first stop of the night, but was unable to convert on the defensive stand as the Eagles fumbled the punt.

That turnover loomed large the rest of the way for New Diana, and Harmony’s offense took advantage of the takeaway. Harmony took over just outside the red zone and scored on a two-yard run by senior quarterback Boston Seahorn for a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.

New Diana battled back to tie it on a four-yard touchdown run by Johnson, but Harmony needed only one play to go back in front when Seahorn connected with Amare Jones for a 70-yard touchdown pass and a 22-14 lead.

New Diana turned the ball over on downs and Harmony’s offense kept humming, grabbing its first two-score lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Seahorn to Will Young for a 28-14 lead at halftime.

New Diana got right back in it with an explosive third quarter. Johnson showed off his wheels on a 64-yard touchdown run to make it a one-score game again less than a minute into the second half.

Harmony reinstated its two-score lead with a four-yard Webber run less than four minutes later.

The teams continued exchanging blows as Johnson connected with his older brother, junior Jaiydyn Johnson, for a 51-yard touchdown pass.

New Diana’s defense got a big stop, forcing Harmony into its second punt. And the Johnson-to-Johnson connection came up big again, this time on a 41-yard touchdown pass to give New Diana a 35-34 lead with 4:13 left in the third quarter.

However, Harmony went back in front on a stellar 26-yard touchdown run by Webber, then Webber added the two-point conversion for a 42-35 lead, which set the stage for the dramatic ending.

DeJuan Johnson threw for 264 yards and rushed for 112 yards with six total touchdowns to lead New Diana. Jaiydyn Johnson hauled in eight receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns