Generals overcome 21-7 4th quarter deficit to win
Kevin Roach became airborne as he watched his 36-yard kick split the uprights with no time left on the clock. Mobbed by his ecstatic teammates, the MacArthur Generals kicker had barely returned to the ground when the realization of his successful field goal attempt set in. The sure-footed senior had just nailed down a stirring 24-21 comeback victory for his Generals over the Syosset Braves on Sept. 24th at Syosset High School.
The Generals overcame a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to send the Braves and their faithful home empty-handed and in utter shock.
RB Tom Kelleher had a solid game that was highlighted by his touchdown pass to WR Will Cheshire that was good for 80 yards. The play delivered a serious blow to Syosset and set the stage for Roach’s eventual knockout punch. But it was QB Gerard Cunningham who led the charge from the start. He scored a touchdown on a quarterback sneak in the first quarter to tie the game 7-7 and threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to rising star TE Eric Schiffman to tie the score at 21 with just over two minutes to play in the game.
Co-captain RB Brett Ellers displayed courage and leadership with 125 yards rushing coupled with a remarkable day at outside linebacker despite a violent second quarter collision with a Syosset defensive back that left both players down on the field for several minutes.
“This team doesn’t quit,” Coach Bobby Fehrenbach said. “They bounce right back. The defense stepped up when they had to and we made the plays on offense when it counted.” MacArthur, now 2-1, will face Hempstead and Uniondale on home turf in their next two games.
