Avella secures thrilling 27-26 OT victory over Rockets
Jefferson-Morgan’s Austin Clark (10) dodges a tackle attempt from Avella’s Tim Fraysier (3) during Friday’s Tri-County South Conference game at Jefferson-Morgan High School. (Photo by Joel Brewton)
Joel Brewton | Herald-Standard
Avella’s Zach Thompson (1) recovers the ball following a fumble by Jefferson-Morgan during Friday’s Tri-County South Conference game at Jefferson-Morgan High School.
Avella’s Jake Temple (34) charges through Jefferson-Morgan’s defense to score the first touchdown of the game Friday at Jefferson-Morgan High School. (Photo by Joel Brewton)
JEFFERSON — A lot of things can happen in overtime in high school football, but one thing for sure will occur — heartbreak!
In a wild Tri-County South Conference contest, Jefferson-Morgan suffered that heartbreak when a two-point pass in overtime was intercepted by Avella’s Santino Paris, giving the Eagles a thrilling 27-26 victory at Parker Field.
“This was a great win, I think the best victory since I been here,” Avella coach Ryan Cecchini said. “To win this game, on the road against a great team in a great environment, does wonders for our football program.”
In a game that had plenty of momentum swings, the Eagles (4-0, 3-0) scored the first points in the extra session when they faked an inside run by Jake Temple and delivered a nine-yard reverse play by Zach Thompson for a touchdown.
After a successful PAT by Avella, the Rockets (2-2, 2-2) wasted no time, as quarterback Rece Henneman hooked up with wideout Gerald Metz for a 10-yard strike.
Without a healthy kicker on the squad in the overtime period, J-M attempted to go for the two-point conversion and the win, but Paris ended the game with the pick in the end zone.
“Nobody deserved to lose this game,” J-M coach Liam Ryan said. “This is what high school football is all about, and I have total respect for my players after a game like this. We missed some key plays in the fourth quarter and penalties killed us during the whole entire game. Both teams played their hearts out tonight.”
Temple, who missed the season opener and was an offensive lineman the last two games, took snaps at fullback on offense and was a game-changer with 122 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns.
For the Rockets, Henneman finished with 224 yards through the air on 11-of-17 passing with two scores, while rushing for 59 yards and another touchdown.
Tailback Logan Bowman was the workhorse for J-M, carrying 25 times for 133 yards and a score. The 5-foot-10 playmaker also hauled in four passes for 80 yards, passed for 50 yards on a halfback throw and recorded an interception in the first half.
“Logan was our playmaker,” Ryan said. “He was a monster for us and put everything on the line tonight. He is such a tough runner and stepped up as a captain for us.”
Metz had three receptions for 105 yards, while tight end Jeff Jento snagged four balls for 69 yards.
On the fourth play of the game, Avella made it 7-0 after a two-yard touchdown rush by Temple. After a three-and-out for J-M, the Eagles doubled their lead to 14-0, courtesy of a 45-yard dash to the end zone by Temple.
After the teams traded possessions to finish off the first quarter, Bowman had an eight-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second stanza. Both squads were held scoreless the rest of the quarter, as Avella clung to a 14-6 lead at halftime.
The Rockets took the opening drive of the third quarter for a score when Henneman found wideout Austin Clark for a 22-yard pitch-and-catch score on fourth down.
Avella fumbled on its next possession, and J-M capitalized, via an eight-yard keeper by Henneman and a two-point pass play to Jento that gave the home team its first lead of the game, 20-14.
“We really didn’t change that much at halftime,” Ryan said. “We have a big O-line and we knew our running game would carry us in that second half. We mixed in some rollouts and some play-action passing, and our offense was pretty solid.”
After the Eagles recorded an interception near midfield and returned it to the 15-yard line, Temple finished off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth period. The game was still tied, however, after a bad snap on the PAT try.
Two possessions later, the Rockets had a chance to win the game in regulation when they marched down the field on 10 plays and called a timeout with one second left and the ball on the two-yard line.
On the drive, Bowman gained 55 yards, but was stopped on the fourth-and-goal play to send the game into overtime.
“Our defense made the plays when they had to,” Cecchini said. “The goal-line stand at the end of regulation was huge and we stopped J-M when we needed stops. Temple played a big part for us tonight. He is a true leader and was very tough to tackle.”
Both teams will be at home next week, as Avella welcomes Geibel Catholic and J-M hosts Frazier in another critical conference clash.