WEST WINFIELD — It seemed odd as the fourth quarter ticked away
through a steady downpour that neither team had yet to turn the ball
over.
Then with just 4:41 remaining in regulation, Notre Dame’s bid to
defy the those unlikely odds slipped right through the hands of one its
players, and when Mt. Markham collectively gobbled up the fumbled
football, it was time for the host Mustangs to finish what they had
earlier started.
Before the fourth quarter began, Mt. Markham assistant coach Ross
Doyle challenged the offensive unit to begin to produce, and starting
from its own 6-yard line, the Mustangs did just that until stalling
deep in Juggler territory. Now that it was their ball once again — on
the Notre Dame 26 nonetheless —new starting quarterback Joe Barletta
& Co. were thinking touchdown to break the scoreless struggle, and
send the mass of umbrellas home a winner on what was homecoming weekend
in West Winfield.
Two huge plays later — a fourth-and-14 conversion from the 28, and a
third-and-11 touchdown strike to the corner of the end zone from the 12
to senior leader Fritz Barrett — and that job was complete. A
successful PAT attempt made it a 7-0 advantage with just 1:49 to play,
and considering the conditions, it was all but insurmountable.
“They played real well tonight, and we knew they had it in them,”
said Mt. Markham’s second-year head coach Rich Waite. “It was
definitely a must-win game for us.”
That’s because it evened the Mustangs’ mark in the Class C East at
2-2, with just this Friday night’s contest at league foe Herkimer still
to be played. The Mustangs still trail C East champ Ilion (4-0) and
second-place Sauquoit Valley (3-1) in the race for the playoffs.
Barrett’s twin brother Eric led the team in rushing with 86 yards on
the ground, while senior defensive lineman Ben Stickles recorded a
team-high nine tackles.
ND 0 0 0 0 — 0
MM 0 0 0 7 — 7
Fourth Quarter
MM - Fritz Barrett 12-yard catch from Joe Barletta (Kyle Maxson kick)
Records: Notre Dame 1-3; Mt. Markham (2-2, 3-3).
Up Next:
This Friday night in Herkimer at 7 p.m. The Magicians lost last weekend to Mohawk and are just 1-5 on the season.
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