Football finds Florence formidable foe

A knock-down drag-out prizefight is the only way to describe Saturday's Central Jersey Group 1 playoff matchup between sixth-seeded Florence and third-seeded Highland Park. The Owls completed a 27-yard touchdown pass from senior Nate Smith to Mike McClain and the two-point conversion pass from Smith to Mike Long, escaping with a nail-bitten 8-7 victory at Jay Dakelman Field.
The Flashes had an early chance to score with a number of untimed downs as the first quarter ended, but a goal-line stand by Parkey and Smith squelched the Florence threat. The visitors dominated the Owls offense throughout the half though, holding the home team to six negative yards of total offense. With 4:35 remaining in the first half, Florence recovered a bad punt snap and drove 44 yards in six plays for the first score, a 21-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Martin to 6-4, 260-pound senior tight end Bryant Watts. Richard Cook's extra point lifted the Flashes to a 7-0 lead.

After the ensuing kickoff, a Louis Middleton completion from to Long, and a pair of penalties, the Owls stood back at their own 37. Smith aired out a 36 yard bomb to senior flanker David Webb (fumble recovery). On the next play, Smith threw to a wide open McClain for the score. Florence was called for offsides on the extra point. This led to the play of the game: a bad snap, recovered by Mike Ryan who pitched the ball to Smith. The senior superman for the Owls avoided several Florence tacklers and threw to Long for the two-point conversion, giving Highland Park the lead with a little more than two minutes left before halftime.

"We practice that play all the time," said Long. "The play is called FIRE and usually the wing or tight end goes out for the pass," he added. The touchdown lit a fire in the defensive front for Highland Park, which not only stuffed Florence on their next possession, but for the bulk of the third quarter and half of the final period.

In the second half, both teams were plagued by penalties. Smith recovered a fumble on the Flashes' first possession of the third quarter. The remainder of the quarter was hotly contested by both teams on the defensive side of the ball. The Owls had a chance to seal the victory with a touchdown after a poor Florence punt gave them good field position inside the opponents' 37. Smith (23 carries, 70 yards) gained 31 yards on the drive. A pass interference penalty in the end zone on Florence kept the drive alive, but after advancing as close as the four yard line the home team eventually surrendered possession at the Florence 13.

The very next play, Florence's Korey Linico, who finished with 66 yards on 10 carries, broke off a 42-yard run down to the Highland Park 45.

 

Martin threw to Paul Fletcher for nine yards to the Owl 36 in a race against the clock and an invigorated Owls defense. After a one-yard gain and an intentional grounding under pressure, Martin threw incomplete on third down. On fourth down, Long intercepted Martin with 50 seconds remaining, to seal the victory and send the Owls and their fans into a frenzied state of euphoria.

Florence outgained Highland Park in total yards, 179-115. Ernest Rawls gained 62 yards on 16 carries for the Flashes. The Owls defense led by LaShaun Parkey, Smith, Ryan, Manny McClain, Long, Middleton, Tyler Rios, Elijah Giles and Noah Kendall allowed Martin to complete just 3-of-10 passes for 30 yards and an interception.

With the victory, Highland Park advances to face the second-seeded Bulldogs at Metuchen High School on November 21st in the semifinal round. "This is going to be a grudge match," said a happy LaShaun Parkey after Saturday's victory. "Metuchen will have revenge on their mind. We have to work hard (and) it's going to be a good game."