GMC Football: Carteret rallies to beat JFK in overtime

CARTERET – When the John F. Kennedy High School football team punched it in from the seven-yard line to go up two scores on Carteret with 9:32 remaining in the fourth quarter on Friday night, the chances of winning the game were slim for the Ramblers.

When the Mustangs went for a surprise onside kick on the ensuing kickoff and recovered, the Ramblers' backs were really against the wall. But rather than panic, the resilient Carteret defense came up with a big stop and gave its offense a chance. 

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A chance was all they needed, as the Ramblers (2-0) would storm all the way back and force overtime after first-year signal caller Zamar Brake found wide receiver Diario Demorla for a 16-yard touchdown reception. Senior Dwayne Sharpe caught the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21-21 with 39 seconds left in regulation. 

In overtime, Carteret won the toss and the Ramblers were able to put together the game-winning drive from the 25-yard line as Brake gave the Ramblers their first lead of the game with a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line. The Ramblers' defense sealed the win as Carteret defeated the Mustangs 28-21 in a thrilling Greater Middlesex Conference White Division showdown.

“When they got up by two scores, we decided to put it in Zamar’s hands and tried to get down the field as fast as we could,” Carteret head coach Matt Yascko said. “From that point forward, we kind of wore them down and they kind of ran out of gas, but I tip my hat to them, they played a wonderful game.” 

The Mustangs (1-1) got off to a great start as they scored on their opening drive as junior quarterback David Lee found sophomore Sergio Maglione for a 52-yard touchdown to give J.F. Kennedy an early 7-0 lead with 8:02 remaining in the first quarter.  

The Mustangs would find the end zone again just a few minutes later in the first quarter as Maglione ran it in from two-yards out to give JFK a commanding 14-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

“We came out flat and they took advantage of it,” Yascko said. “They got up on us big.”

Following the touchdown, the Ramblers went three-and-out once again, but got the ball back shortly after Demorla was able to intercept a long pass attempt at the start of the second quarter. 

The Mustangs capitalized on the interception with a 39-yard touchdown drive, which was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Brake to cut the Mustangs' lead to 14-6 with 5:57 remaining in the first half. 

Brake finished with four total touchdowns and completed nine of his 22 pass attempts with 158 throwing yards and two passing touchdowns. The duel-threat quarterback also added two touchdowns on the ground with 34 rushing yards. 

With a one score game in the second half, neither team was able to get the offense going in the second half until J.F. Kennedy junior Maven Garced punched it in from seven-yards out to put the Mustangs up two scores. But the Ramblers came storming back, beginning with stellar defensive play and a fast-paced offense that was able to put get on the board twice to force the overtime.

“Carteret football is about staying humble, staying poised and never giving up,” said Demorla, who finished with 108 receiving yards on nine catches with two touchdowns. 

The Ramblers attributed their thrilling comeback win to the team’s camaraderie and trust in one another. 

“We’re all brothers,” Demorla said. “We all love each other, we’re all cool. Carteret is a small town and we all believe in each other over here.”