Haddon Heights holds off Audubon

One point, one flag, one second.

That's all that separated Haddon Heights and Audubon yesterday in a wildly entertaining Colonial Conference football game.

Haddon Heights held on for a 14-13 victory as Audubon drove to the 8-yard line but was unable to snap the football on fourth down as time expired and the Garnets raced onto the field in celebration.

"This is what Colonial Conference football is all about," Haddon Heights coach Tim George said. "This is such a great rivalry."

Audubon (1-1) built a 13-0 lead behind senior quarterback Brandon Hill and junior running back Brian Flacco.

Hill completed 21 of 34 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown. Flacco ran 20 times for 63 yards and a touchdown and also caught 11 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.

"Those guys are great players," George said.

Haddon Heights (1-1) rallied behind senior running back Josh Johnson, who gained 146 yards on 15 carries before suffering muscle cramps in the fourth quarter.

Johnson's 67-yard touchdown run came on the first play after Audubon took a 13-0 lead in the third quarter. The Garnets took the 14-13 lead as junior quarterback Jim Liquori fired a 7-yard touchdown pass to junior Darius Jones and Mark Madiraca added his second extra point.

"I was talking to myself on the sideline and I said, 'Josh, we need a big play,' " Johnson said of his touchdown run.

Audubon's offense was aided in the fourth quarter by three face-mask penalties against Haddon Heights, including two 15-yard infractions.

The Green Wave drove to the Haddon Heights 26 and Hill threw an apparent touchdown pass to senior John Flacco with 52 seconds on the clock. But the play was nullified by a holding penalty.

"I think that was the only call we had for us all game, but I'll take that," George said.

After the penalty, Audubon was facing a 4th and 22 from the 38 when Hill fired a 30-yard strike to junior Nick Catling, who made a one-handed catch with 31 seconds to play.

Hill spiked the football to stop the clock at 0:26. After an incompletion, Hill was sacked on third down, losing a fumble. Audubon fullback Tyler Urban picked up the football but was tackled by Haddon Heights linebacker Dylan Bushby.

The Green Wave raced to the line for one last play, but the clock expired a second before the snap.

"We've got such great kids," Audubon first-year coach Jon Caputo said. "They won't stop until it's over. You can't question that."

Haddon Heights 0 0 14 0 - 14

Audubon 0 7 6 0 - 13

A: B. Flacco 17 pass from Hill (Rotan kick)

A: B. Flacco 2 run (kick fail)

HH: Johnson 67 run (Madiraca kick)

HH: Jones 7 pass from Liquori (Madiraca kick)