Mather, playing without star running back Mike Rice, who is nursing a bruised shoulder, had to look elsewhere for offensive firepower Thursday. But the Rangers, who benefited from a Curie coaching mistake, didn’t have to wait long to find out where it would come from.
Quarterback Tony Ramirez (9 for 15, 157 yards, two touchdowns) connected with Mike Spacucello for a 60-yard touchdown pass just six plays into Mather’s first offensive series to spark a 14-13 victory over Curie in a non-conference game at Winnemac Stadium.
With Mather (2-1) trailing 13-6 midway through the third quarter, Ramirez found Lamar Milton for his second touchdown pass, a 50-yard strike. Ramirez’s subsequent run for the two-point conversion gave the Rangers a 14-13 lead.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Curie had fourth and goal at the Mather 2-yard line. Instead of setting up for the short field goal to put his team ahead, Curie coach Louis Acevedo kept his offense on the field and called a running play. Mather defenders John Keehan and Tom Vidljinovic stopped Donzell Rivers before he could reach the end zone.
“I lost it for us,” Acevedo said. “I should have gone for the field goal. It’s my fault. The kids didn’t lose it. They wanted to go for it on fourth down. I’m the one that is supposed to make the decision. I’m the adult.”
Curie (1-2), who was led by quarterback Brandon Holda’s two first-half touchdowns, got the ball back late in the game. But Ramirez intercepted a pass with just over 3 minutes left to seal the game.
“We stopped them; it was good,” Mather coach Ed Miller said. “We’re happy to win the game. I feel sorry for Curie. They played a better football game than we did.”
Carver 20, Prosser 18: Korey Stevenson threw touchdown passes of 25 and 40 yards as the Challengers (2-1) scored all their points in the second half to overcome a 12-0 halftime deficit.
Cedric Smith was on the receiving end of Stevenson’s 40-yard touchdown pass and returned a punt 70 yards for another score.
J.R. Waddy (21 tackles) and Antoine Murdo (17) anchored the Carver defense.
John Branch’s two touchdowns led the way for Prosser.
Clemente 54, Lincoln Park 6: Edward Nieves and Robert Monk each scored two touchdowns for Clemente (2-1). Alexis Ramirez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Wildcats scored 36 first-half points.
Andre Camacho (20-yarder) and David Beltran (38) each added touchdown runs late in the game for the Wildcats, whose defense also tallied when Gilberto Alvarado recovered a fumble in the end zone.
Tilden 28, Spalding 0: Brent McGee scored on a 10-yard run and threw a 35-yard scoring strike as the Blue Devils (1-2) scored in every quarter.
Kentheney Moore added a 38-yard touchdown run and Montarius McClain scored from 3 yards out for Tilden.
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