Neptune Beats Asbury Park 20-14 on Late Touchdown
Coaster Photos
Neptunes Brian Stepney (1) hauls in the winning touchdown pass over the Bishops Kaeshon McMillan (7).
By ANDREW CANGIANO
With a first down run on a crucial fourth down and the winning 31 yard touchdown pass on the next play, Neptune senior quarterback Damon Poland assured that he would come out on top in his last game.
Polands 31 yard touchdown pass to Brian Stepney gave the Scarlet Fliers a 20-14 win over Asbury Park at home on Saturday – after the annual Thanksgiving clash was pushed back due to inclement weather.
Neptune was able to score on its last drive by pounding the ball to running back Micheal Peavy, who was awarded the games MVP for the Fliers, and Stepneys spectacular leaping grab in the closing seconds.
We just had to pound em with the run and Peavy made it work for us, thats why he ended up with that award and then try to go play action and go deep, because [we had] nothing to lose, Poland said.
The Fliers began the drive with six straight runs to Peavy which netted 41 yards and two first downs. However, on third and two from the Bishops 33 Peavy was stopped for no gain, bringing up fourth down.
Poland picked up the crucial first down on a quarterback sneak to put the ball at Asbury Parks 31 with 0:25 seconds left. On the next play, the senior quarterback hit Stepney, who made a great leaping catch for the winning score.
Poland said the touchdown throw to Stepney was a simple fade route, as the junior wideout had told coaches that he could out jump the Bishops coverage.
Just put it up top towards the out of boards for him close as possible, he came down with it, the senior quarterback said about the throw.
Neptune head coach John Fiore said the team went back to its power running game during the third quarter, after going away from the strategy for the last several games in favor of using a single back and running the option.
I just made an adjustment towards the early third quarter. I said the heck with it, Fiore said, as he explained that he re-entered senior fullback Ron Raison and brought in junior Kyle Terry at offensiveline.
The head coach said that after making the change, Peavy took over the game for us.
And because of that running [by Peavy] on the last two drives, that set up Stepneys touchdown, Fiore said.
The two teams headed into the final quarter knotted at 7-7 before both offenses began rolling. Neptune pounded the ball with runs to Micheal Peavy.
A stop by the Fliers defense on a fourth and one for Asbury Park gave Neptune the ball on their own 30 yard line with just over nine minutes remaining. On the second play of the drive running back Michael Peavy busted outside for a 67 yard touchdown run that gave the Fliers a 14-7 lead.
The Bishops responded with an impressive drive of their own, which included a 33 yard pass from sophomore quarterback Will Johnson to senior wideout Tyquan Kelly as Asbury Park drove inside the Neptune 20 yard line. The Bishops capped off the march as Johnson hit junior Fred Hopson for a game tying touchdown pass as he scrambled away from the defense.
Hopson did an excellent job of keeping his feet in bounds while securing the pass, which tied the game at 14-14 with 3:26 left.
Kelly was named most valuable player for the Bishops in the close defeat. Asbury Park finished the season 1-9 overall.
Coach Fiore said the win shows the team has improved this season.
Its big. It brings us to 5-5, it gives us a .500 year, its a two game improvement from last year, said Fiore, who is in his first year coaching at Neptune.
While the Scarlet Fliers will lose some seniors to graduation, such as Poland, Ron Raisin, Rodney Tillery, Damien Horning and Zach Nelson, the team will be bringing back the likes of Stepney, quarterback Lem Walker, Roderick Tillery, and Peavy
Im gonna to be sorry to see these seniors leaving, said Fiore, but you know what, overall, these younger kids give us a full year in the offseason and who knows what we can do.
Pictured after the game are Neptune Head Coach John Fiore (far left), Neptune MVP Michael Peavy (26, second from left) and Asbury Park MVP Tyquan Kelly (15, center). Also pictured are each schools athletic directors and principals.
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