Irish preserve win with no time left

The Camden Catholic football team's defense did not have time to sulk.

The group just gave up what could be a highly-viewed YouTube video, and were one play away from a third straight Thanksgiving Day loss to rival Paul VI.

Enter Brandon Jones.

The senior helped prevent a two-point conversion with no time remaining on the clock as the Fighting Irish held on for a thrilling 27-26 win over the Eagles at Shamrock Field in Cherry Hill.

"It was a team effort," said Jones, a defensive back. "We hurt a little bit, but we had to keep playing."

The Irish (8-2) were in pain because of the play that preceded the conversion.

Paul VI (9-2) trailed by 27-20 after a 7-yard touchdown pass from Irish quarterback Marc Lucarini to Terrance Casper - and what turned out to be Lucarini's very important extra-point kick - with just 14.1 seconds remaining in the game.

Stephen Abbott returned the ensuing kickoff to the Paul VI 31-yard line, leaving 7.1 seconds on the clock. Paul VI needed a miracle, and it got one.

Eagles quarterback Glenn Hutton threw a pass that Camden Catholic senior defensive back Josh Rota and Paul VI junior receiver Zack Gorczysnski, among others, went up for at about the Irish 40. It deflected directly to Paul VI's Will Campbell, who raced down the sideline for an improbable touchdown with no time on the clock.

"I probably wasn't where I was supposed to be on the play," Campbell said. "I got pushed out to the sideline, and the ball just came right to me."

Rota, a captain and three-year starter who had an interception earlier in the game, did not want to leave the field.

"I was afraid to go the sideline," joked Rota, who did attempt to knock the ball down.

That left Paul VI head coach John Doherty with a decision: attempt the game-tying extra point, or go for two and the win. The Eagles had missed two extra points earlier in the game, and had a bad snap on a punt.

"I came over and talked to my seniors, and they wanted to go for the win," said Doherty, who called back-to-back time-outs to make the decision and get his team ready for the play.

Paul VI lined up in a Triple-I formation, with standout running back Jonathan Grimes as the deep man. Earlier, the Eagles ran Grimes out of the same formation.

This time Hutton, who threw three TD passes, faked to Grimes and rolled right. Tight end Dan DiOrio appeared to break free for a second, but Jones stepped into the passing lane in front of DiOrio. Hutton decided to tuck it and run, and appeared to have a path to the end zone. But the Fighting Irish swarmed, and Hutton was stopped inches from the goal line.

"I was actually a little surprised they went for two," Camden Catholic head coach Rick Brown said. "But we responded there, which is something we've talked about. In the two games we lost where we ran into some adversity, we didn't really pull through it. This time we did."

It was fitting the game came down to the last play. Although the Eagles never led, Camden Catholic never owned more than a seven-point lead.

Lucarini, named the Irish MVP of the game, threw for three touchdowns and caught one from receiver Jerry Waters on a trick play. His final TD pass was the fade to the 6-foot-5 Casper to break a 20-20 tie.

"I have a lot of faith in my receivers," Lucarini said. "We had him lined up one-on-one with a defensive back who was probably about 6 feet tall, so it was really a no-brainer where I was going."

Grimes, South Jersey's leading rusher coming into the game, was named Paul VI's MVP. He rushed for 188 yards, a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

Paul VI6 8 6 6 - 26

Camden Catholic7 13 0 7 - 27

CC: Shearn 5 pass from Lucarini (Lucarini kick)

PVI: DiOrio 19 pass from Hutton (kick failed)

CC: Casper 4 pass from Lucarini (Lucarini kick)

PVI: Grimes 52 run (Grimes run)

CC: Lucarini 15 pass from Waters (kick blocked)

PVI: Farnular 12 pass from Hutton (kick blocked)

CC: Casper 7 pass from Lucarini (Lucarini kick)

PVI: Campbell 69 pass from Hutton (run failed)