Clifton stages late rally to top Kennedy in overtime by Darren Cooper of The Record
CLIFTON – Clifton junior running back David Martinez and the Mustangs refused to be denied on Friday night.
Down, 26-7, with less than seven minutes to play, Clifton scored three touchdowns to force overtime, then Martinez scored on a 12-yard run, touching off a wild celebration as the Mustangs triumphed, 32-26, at Clifton Stadium.
“I tell you what, with five minutes left I see the coaching staff hugging on the other side,” said Clifton coach Ralph Cinque. “It put me into another place. Our kids feed off our emotions. They kept telling me, ‘Coach, we aren’t losing, we aren’t losing.’”
The final five minutes of regulation included two touchdown passes by Clifton quarterback Armani Brinson, one failed onside kick and one recovered by Mustangs sophomore Angel Payano that set up the game-tying touchdown, 17-yard run by Clifton sophomore Christian Boneparte with 50.9 seconds left.
The overtime was just as eventful. Kennedy started with the ball, converted a crazy fourth down on a halfback pass from star running back Azmir Ivy to Ya’zier Francis to the Clifton 15. But the Mustangs defense held firm on the three yard line. The Knights had not made an extra point and opted not to try to kick a field goal.
Clifton only needed two plays to score, as Martinez ran left for 13 yards against a weary Knights defense, then weaved his way up the middle for the game-winner.
“He’s a workhorse,” said Cinque. “It was a battle of running backs tonight. Their kid is excellent. Excellent. We put Boneparte in the game for fresh legs, and boom, he exploded.”
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Clifton took the opening kickoff and drove down to the Kennedy 36 where it was forced to punt. However, the Knights fumbled on the return giving the ball right back to Clifton at the Knights 22.
After having a touchdown called back after a man downfield penalty, Brinson connected with senior Omar Khaled who made a diving catch at the side of the end zone on an 18-yard TD pass. The PAT was true and the Mustangs led 7-0.
Kennedy only needed one play to score on its second possession, after getting good field position at the Mustangs 34, Knights quarterback Evelon Babbs hit Drovon Watson in stride for a touchdown. The extra point was low.
Kennedy would seize the lead, relying on Ivy, who carried the ball seven times on a 14-play 60-yard drive that culminated with a seven-yard run by Babbs. The try for two failed.
The Knights added to their lead on the first drive of the second half, as Babbs threw a perfect rainbow pass to Calvin Clyburn for a 45-yard score. Ivy would catch a screen pass on the two-point play and saunter in to make it 20-7.
Another screen pass to Ivy made it 26-7 as he trotted in with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter, there was nothing that indicated that the Mustangs were on the verge of a comeback. But the game had really just begun.
“This is why you play the game,” said Cinque. “This is the way this team is, you never say die.”
What it means: The Mustangs are 4-2 and get a huge power point boost entering their game against Bergen Tech. Then they have a bye, before a battle with Hackensack that looms large down the road. This could be a big confidence shaker for the Knights who had won three in a row and had this game in hand before falling.
The scene: The night was dry, but the football was slick in the first half, with each team fumbling the ball twice in the first half, but the only time the ball changed hands was on the early punt return….Long-time Pequannock wrestling coach Len Smith was on the chain crew….This being October, both teams accented their uniforms with pink socks, and the referees threw pink flags.