Athens kicker Cesar Sanchez made a 35-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to tie the game and then nailed an 18-yarder in overtime to win it as the Golden Eagles took a critical 19-16 win over Cullman Friday night.

The victory puts Athens at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Class 6A, Region 7. The Golden Eagles can clinch a playoff spot next week with a win over winless Columbia combined with either a Muscle Shoals win over Cullman or a Hartselle win over Decatur.

For most of the game, it looked like Athens would fall to the upset on the road, which would have put their playoff hopes in jeopardy. Cullman (3-4, 1-2) jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but Athens tied the game in the second quarter on a long touchdown run by quarterback Logan Smothers.

However, that would be the Golden Eagles’ only offensive touchdown of the night. Cullman retook the lead late in the second quarter with a touchdown, and the Bearcats held a 13-7 halftime lead.

That lead lasted until the fourth quarter, when Jaelen Cates returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown to the the game after the extra point attempt missed.

The final minutes was a battle of field goal kickers, as Cullman took a 16-13 lead with 2:13 left on a field goal, before Athens drove down the field to set up Sanchez on the final play of regulation, with his 35-yard attempt splitting the uprights to send the game to overtime.

Cullman got the ball first in the extra session, but Athens forced a turnover, meaning the Golden Eagles only needed a field goal to win on their offensive possession.

The Golden Eagles drove to the Cullman 1-yard line to set up Sanchez from close range, and the junior kicker left no doubt as he drilled the attempt to send the Athens players into a huge celebration.

It is the third game this season that Athens has won on the final play. The Golden Eagles defeated Gardendale 29-22 after batting down a pass in the end zone on the final play, and then defeated Decatur when the Red Raiders missed a 21-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

Athens hosts Columbia next week for homecoming.