Football players often can recount the worst 30 seconds and the best 30 seconds of their careers. For Augusta Colts fullback J.K. Sabb, they came back-to-back in the final minute of Friday's game.

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With help from teammate D.A. Smith (left), Carolina's Tony George comes down with an interception in front of Augusta's Anthony Young, who had three touchdown receptions.

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Carolina quarterback Rodney Milbourne (left) is unable to escape Augusta's Ralph Scott, who got the sack.

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The Colts (7-5) beat the Carolina Speed 53-42 in spite of Sabb and because of him. The Laney alum fumbled on the 1-yard line with a minute to play and the Colts trailing by two points, but he found redemption by scoring twice in the final 26 seconds for the win.

"I felt so bad I wanted to kill myself, and then so good because we got the win," Sabb said.

Sabb's blunder nearly wrecked a game that saw the Colts lead through the first three-and-a-half quarters. Augusta opened up a 21-0 lead thanks to three touchdown receptions by Anthony Young.

The Colts squandered their lead by allowing Carolina to score 23 points in the second quarter. Augusta led by four points at halftime but lost the advantage when Speed placekicker Dave Hendricks nailed a 42-yard field goal for a 42-40 lead with 3:22 left in the game.

The Colts drove the length of the field on their next possession, but Sabb's fumble ruined the drive.

"I was sweating, had no gloves, and it was gone before I knew what happened," he said.

"We told him to keep his head up," Colts lineman Voncellies Allen said. "He's been the heart of our running game all year, and we knew he was going to get another chance."

Redemption came after the Colts' defense held Carolina to three-and-out. Augusta charged back down the field, and Young's 21-yard reception took the home team down to the 1-yard line with 27.4 seconds left.

Colts head coach Bubba Diggs said there was no hesitation when deciding which play to call.

"No doubt in my mind," he said. "He hasn't fumbled all year long, so why not?"

Sabb made good on his do-over with a 1-yard dive for a 46-42 lead with 26 seconds left.

Carolina got the ball back, but a Myqual Spann sack forced a fumble, and Allen recovered.

Sabb added another touchdown from 5 yards out two plays later to seal the win.

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.