|
Ling brings in winner for Middletown
North
Published in the Asbury Park Press 10/28/00
By JOHN FORTUNA
CORRESPONDENT
MIDDLETOWN -- The thoughts flashed through Dan Ling's mind in
rapid-fire succession as he watched the ball framed against the night
sky.
Where's the defensive back? Don't let him strip it. Don't drop it.
When the ball finally settled in Ling's clutches in the end zone,
Middletown North had a gut-wrenching 21-14 victory over Manalapan.
Quarterback Kevin Farrell -- who was forced from the game earlier with a
sprained tendon in his throwing elbow -- found Ling with a 20-yard
scoring pass down the middle of the field with 1:13 left for the winning
score.
"We were running power all night," Farrell said. "(On
the pass to Ling), we ran a fake and had Dan run a backside post. It
worked out great."
The victory was even more impressive in that it was accomplished with
sophomore tailback sensation Bill Lyons sidelined with a sprained right
ankle for the second half. Dan DeRisi moved from fullback to replace
Lyons, but he was forced from the game with a leg injury as the Lions
began their game-winning 14-play, 86-yard drive. Nick Colon stepped in
for DeRisi and contributed five carries for 40 yards on the march. He
also added the two-point conversion run as North overcame a 14-13
deficit.
"A total team victory," Farrell said. "Our defense
played great, and our offensive line did a great job blocking. When
they're opening holes like that, it doesn't matter who's back there
(running the ball)."
The Lions (4-4) drew within 14-13 with 27 seconds left in the third
quarter on an 8-yard pass from Farrell to Matt Walling. But Jordan Zinco
blocked the extra point.
Manalapan (2-6) scored on its first two possessions to build a 14-7
lead. Jack Phillips found Mike Bianco for a 26-yard score. After
Middletown North answered via an 8-yard run by DeRisi, Cory Brooks
countered with an 8-yard run for the Braves. Brooks finished with a
game-high 186 yards on 27 carries.
"Our kids buckled up and got it done when we had to," North
coach John Oxley said. "It's one of the highlights of our season.
The only problem is, I'm aging five years every week."
from the Asbury Park Press
Published on October 28, 2000
|
