By Jim Hintelmann
MIDDLETOWN – When Middletown North scored two touchdowns in the second half to take a 13-10 lead on rival Middletown South Thanksgiving Day, it seemed as if it would score its first win over the Eagles in 14 years, but it was not to be.
Led by running back Cole Rogers, who almost single-handedly lifted South in the second half, South rallied to retake the lead and hold on for a 20-13 triumph before a standing-room-only crowd at North.
Rogers ran 45 yards in six carries to set up the tying field goal early in the fourth quarter and then scored the winning touchdown minutes later on a 64-yard run.
“This is great,” said Rogers, who picked up 192 yards in 30 carries. “This is one of the greatest games of the year because it is for the pride of the township.”
Trailing 10-0 entering the third quarter, North, which had been held to just 29 yards total offense in the first half, began to find its offense.
Starting from its own 22 following the kickoff, the Lions went 78 yards nine plays for its first touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Don Glenn threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Pitts after setting it up with a 19-yard pass to Troy Thompson. Nick Banta kicked the extra point after to cut the lead to 10-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, North (6-4) then gambled with an onside kick and the Lions recovered the ball at midfield.
–Ken Cook
With running back Chad Freshnock carrying the ball on every play, North drove to the South 21 from where Glenn threw a touchdown pass to Josh Gonzales, who caught the ball while crouching on the ground. The point after touchdown (PAT) missed but North still had a 13-10 lead.
South, however, came back on its next series and tied the score on a 35-yard field goal from quarterback Matt Mosquera with 9:35 left. Then came Rogers’ winning touchdown.
“I got a great block from Brian Joyce on that play,” said Rogers. “North scoring in the second half was a wakeup call for us.”
“North came out in the second half and took advantage on their opportunities,” said South coach Steve Antonucci. “This is a tough place to play.”
A key play in the game came with about two minutes remaining when South had a fourth and two on its 22-yard line.
South went back in into punt formation but, instead of punting, the ball was snapped to running back Nolan Peerless, who picked up five yards for the first down. South then ran out the clock.
“This wasn’t a championship game,” said Antonucci. “That was the idea behind the fake punt.”
The first half was all Middletown South with North never getting past the South 40-yard line. Rogers scored on a 2-yard run, and then Mosquera booted a 40-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead, but North rallied in the second half and came close to an upset.
“Having Mosquera is big for us,” said Antonucci. “He’s solid and such a luxury to have. He’s a very confident player.”
“Coach Bush (North coach Steve Bush)does a great job building their program,” said Antonucci. “We had come prepared for anything. We had just three or four days of practice for this game while North had almost two weeks to prepare for us.”
South will play Jackson Memorial Saturday for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship at Rutgers University. Game time will be 7 p.m.
“Jackson Memorial is more than a great team,” said Antonucci. “It will be a tough test for us, but we’ll be ready.”
Although losing, North still had its best season in years and should have a another strong team next year with both Glenn and Freshnock returning along with several other key players.
