Football: Bernards holds on for victory in Central Group II
POINT PLEASANT - Clinging on to a four point lead with the opposing team deep in its own territory with just over a minute to play, the Bernards High School football team’s defense, which struggled in the first half, came up with a huge play to earn the program its first road playoff victory.
On fourth-and-1 on the Mountaineer 20-yard line with 43 seconds left to play, Point Pleasant Boro quarterback James Fara was stopped short on a run up the middle by the Mountaineers defensive line, and fifth-seeded Bernards topped the fourth-seeded Panthers, 31-27, in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Group II playoffs on Friday evening.
“That’s all about our toughness, our team never gives up,” Bernards defensive lineman Andrew Best said. “This is my first year with these boys, but I love them more than anything else. They’ll put their heart on the line and stop somebody on the one-yard line if it’ll save their night. That’s all that matters to me.”
The Mountaineers seemed poised to walk away with a victory, but the Panthers recovered a fumble on the Mountaineer 48-yard line with 3:25 left to play. The Panthers gained a couple first downs, but Best and the Mountaineers stuffed them on fourth down to seal the victory.
After conceding 27 points in the first half, the Mountaineers shut out the Panthers in the second half.
“At the end when everything seemed to be going against us, these guys stepped up and played football,” Bernards coach Jon Simoneau said. “That’s our season, we struggled defensively in the first half of the season but put it together in the second half. In the second half tonight, we played tough defense and did our job.”
Bernards trailed 27-24 going into halftime but took the lead on a 56-yard rushing touchdown by Mark Murphy. On the ensuing Point Boro drive, the Panthers got down to the Mountaineers one-yard line, but the Bernards defense stopped them in their tracks with 3:01 left to play.
For Simoneau, it was very special to win the program’s first road playoff victory with the players he’s worked with for so many years.
“To me it means a lot because I’ve had these kids for four years,” Simoneau said. “Guys like Andrew I’ve had in camp since he was five years old, and here he is having a magnificent night.”
Matt Tantleff put Bernards ahead 14-0 early in the first quarter with touchdown runs of 72 and 32 yards, but three rushing touchdowns, including two from Fara, put Point Pleasant Boro ahead 20-14 with 6:46 left in the first half.
Daniel LoGiudice:dlogiudice@gannettnj.com