An illegal man downfield penalty forced Dylan Slack to throw two touchdown passes in the final 35 seconds to complete a game-winning drive against Lubbock Cooper on Friday at Shotwell Stadium.

But the Abilene High signal caller was up to the task, responding to the untimely infraction with an 18-yard strike to Ryland Bradford with just four seconds left to lead the Eagles to a dramatic 38-35 win and put his team in control of the District 2-5A Division I race with two games remaining in the regular season.

That touchdown pass — Slack’s second of the game and 17th on the season — capped a 65-yard scoring drive in the final 1:30 to improve AHS to 6-2 on the year and a perfect 4-0 in district play.