Immaculata football stuns top-seeded Hudson Catholic on TD pass with 2.9 seconds left

The Immaculata High School football team, which narrowly qualified for the postseason as an eight seed on a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker, more than proved it belonged in the Non-Public Group II playoffs with a stunning 21-14 upset of top-seeded Hudson Catholic on Saturday.

The Spartans won in dramatic fashion as wideout Sean Gaffney capped a 75-yard drive on a 35-yard touchdown reception from sophomore signal caller Nate Barnett with 2.9 seconds remaining.

Just 32 seconds earlier, Hudson Catholic, which trailed by two touchdowns early in the second quarter, knotted the contest at 14-14 on a quarterback keeper.

With the victory, Immaculata’s third straight, the Spartans (6-4) advanced to Friday’s sectional semifinal against fourth-seeded Holy Spirit, a 42-6 winner over Montclair-Kimberly Academy in another first-round game.

“Because of the power points situation, we were first of all very happy to get in (to the playoffs),” Immaculata head coach Tom Falato said. “Now the records are 0-0 and we have as good a chance as anybody to do anything. Hudson Catholic was a deserving No. 1 seed. We were fortunate to beat them.”

As a member of the North Jersey Super Conference’s Blue Division, which it won with an unblemished 5-0 record, Hudson Catholic (6-4) faced a difficult out-of-division schedule that prepared it well for the postseason. But so did Immaculata, whose Mid-State 38 Conference slate featured all Group V and Group IV opponents including four playoff qualifiers.

“I’m confident in our kids,” Falato said. “We are getting better and better. Starting with Montgomery (the first of three consecutive wins) – a game where we came back three different times – and then doing the job against a good Phillipsburg team. We showed some really good things today, as well.”

With the score deadlocked after Immaculata had squandered an early 14-0 lead, the Spartans took over at their own 25 with 34 seconds remaining. Barnett displayed the poise of a veteran, completing four consecutive passes during the winning four-play drive.

On the decisive scoring strike, Barnett scrambled out of harm’s way, rolling to his right, and, rather than throwing on the run, squared himself up to find Gaffney wide open in the end zone for his 10th touchdown pass of the season (Barnett completed 10 passes for 150 yards).

“He avoided the rush and we ran our scramble drill just like we practice every day,” Falato explained. “He showed very good ability to extend the play. He is fearless. He will throw it with people around (receivers) and on him and he will run it as well. He’s really starting to come into his own.”

RJ Thornburg opened the scoring on a 1-yard run with 4:15 remaining in the first quarter (he rushed for 120 yards on 24 carries). The Spartans doubled their lead early in the second quarter when Keith Sivitz took a direct snap and raced 26 yards for a touchdown. Hudson Catholic cut the deficit in half with 4:36 left in the second quarter.

The Spartans twice had an opportunity to put the contest out of reach late in the third quarter. They lost a fumble just outside the goal line. Then, after Hudson Catholic fumbled the pigskin right back, Immaculata couldn’t convert a fourth-and-goal.

Immacualta made a significant defensive stand of its own late in the first quarter. After the Spartans fumbled a punt at their own 25, Hudson Catholic turned the ball over on downs at the Immaculata 17.

“To their credit, they came back,” Falato said of Hudson Catholic, which had a touchdown drive aided by two penalties.

“When they scored (with 34 seconds left), I thought, you know what, it’s enough time. We practice this (two-minute drill) and the kids execute it. Our receivers got out of bounds as they were supposed to.”

Falato said he didn’t “have to say anything” to his charges after Hudson Catholic knotted the contest.

“They don’t panic,” Falato said. “They know what to do. They kept telling each other, just keep playing.”

And now the Spartans, who narrowly qualified for the playoffs, have survived to play another day.