C&C pulls off fake punt in late comeback

BOURNE — Coyle & Cassidy quarterback Jackson Murray didn’t even attempt a pass yesterday in swirling winds and tough field conditions.

But with the third-seeded Warriors trying to answer a touchdown from No. 2 Upper Cape Tech late in the third quarter in the Division 8 South semifinal, Coyle coach Chris Pabst knew he needed to go to the air. Only problem was the Warriors faced a fourth-and10 at their own 36.

Instead of having Murray air it out, Coyle executed a fake punt with Michael Richer hitting Murray, who made a juggling catch, for the first down. The unconventional play gave Coyle a vital spark to score 16 unanswered fourth-quarter points and earn a 22-14 victory.

“It’s one of those wrinkles you try to put in every week,” said Pabst as Coyle (7-2) advanced to the Division 8 South final against West Bridgewater. “I wasn’t planning on using it, but the situation came up and I looked at one of my coaches and he said, ‘It’s time right now.’”

Murray (20 carries, 129 yards) shouldered the load after his sensational catch, scoring on a 1-yard plunge before running in the twopoint conversion to level the score, 14-14, with 7:39 left.

Coyle’s defense then forced its first of three fourth-quarter turnovers. Two plays later, Murray scampered 39 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 5:30 left.

“We’ve been a second-half team the whole year,” Mur- ray said. “We’re used to this situation being down in the fourth quarter.”

An interception by Thomas Joyce and Austin Medeiros’ second fumble recovery of the quarter prevented an Upper Cape (6-3) comeback. The Rams had shrugged off a slow start by turning a costly Warriors miscue into points in the final seconds of the first half on a 2-yard run by Juzary Salim for a 7-6 lead.

Kemrin Glover, who filled in for Salim after he suffered an injury on a late hit in the third quarter, extended Upper Cape’s lead on a 55yard touchdown run before Coyle mounted its rally to keep its title hopes alive.

“This is huge for the program and huge for the school,” Pabst said. “I hear every week that Coyle’s not the same anymore, but I think we’re proving people wrong.”