Baldwin ? The keys to a successful reverse are deception and, of course, luck.

Gardner-Edgerton High had a bit of each on its final offensive play Friday night.

“The lineman hit me, and when I bounced off, all I saw was an open end zone,” said running back Geoff Thomas, whose game-winning touchdown on a quick nine-yard reverse gave the Trailblazers a 12-6 overtime victory against Baldwin at Liston Stadium.

“We had the right defense in there,” Baldwin coach Mike Berg said. “We had a guy bounce off him that I don’t think knew he had the ball but we were right there.”

Each team had its chances, mounting drives that stalled deep in the other’s territory during the final 12 minutes.

“Whenever we line up with Gardner, you’re going to see a pretty good ballgame,” Berg said. “Both teams always fight till the end.”

Baldwin scored on its first offensive play when Micah Mason scored on a 33-yard run up the middle.

Gardner (2-1) answered on its second drive, a 43-yard, eight-play march capped by Anthony Ledbetter’s six-yard TD run.

Like Baldwin’s extra point, Gardner’s was blocked, and the scoreboard reflected a 6-all tie for the next 38 minutes.

Neither team established much offense on a marshy field which seemed to negate the Trailblazers’ speed advantage but each team’s standout running back was impressive.

Mason rushed for 122 yards on 28 carries, and Gardner’s Brandon Goff had 103 yards on 19 attempts.

The Trailblazers finally seemed poised to score at the start of the fourth quarter. But facing a fourth-and-eight at the Baldwin 15, Thomas was stopped three yards short of the first down.

Baldwin won the OT toss and gave Gardner the first series to score.

They did when Thomas took Ledbetter’s quick handoff and bounded to the left side. With Baldwin’s defense reacting to Ledbetter, who went right, Thomas beat a lone Bulldog to the pylon.

Baldwin had four downs to match the TD but managed just three yards on its first two plays, then threw an incomplete pass.

With seven yards to go on its final down, Mason was Baldwin’s last hope.

He swung wide on a sweep to the left sideline before cutting back to the middle, but was greeted by a host of tacklers four yards short of the goal line.

Gardner-Edgerton 12, Baldwin 6, OT

Gardner-Edgerton 6 0 0 0 6 12

Baldwin 6 0 0 0 0 6

B Micah Mason 33 run (kick failed)

GE Anthony Ledbetter 6 run (kick failed)

GE Geoff Thomas 9 run (kick failed)