By Five Boro Sports
Having coached football at Mount St. Michael for a quarter century, Mario Valentini has a pretty good handle on what is needed to win in the CHSFL.
ÒThere comes a point in every game where you have to make some plays,Ó Valentini said. ÒAs I told the kids, a lot of times five or six plays makes a difference in the game.Ó
On Saturday, at Promuto Stadium, Holy Cross senior Terrence Coon made almost every one in the KnightsÕ 16-14 victory.
Coon scored one of his teamÕs two touchdowns, came up with a huge interception with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter at the Cross 10-yard line and stretched across for what should have been a game-clinching first down 20 seconds later.
ÒHeÕs a playmaker. ThereÕs a lot to be said about being a coachÕs son, having a brother [Tyrell] go through the program,Ó Holy Cross Coach Tom Pugh said. ÒHe understands the game. A lot of kids today donÕt understand the game. They understand how to play, but they donÕt understand the game. He knows to be in the right spot at the right time.Ó
That explains how Coon, who plays on both sides of the ball, knew to run toward Mount receiver Thomas Cardona on fourth-and-12. Max OtanoÕs long bomb down the sideline deflected off the hands of Holy Cross defensive back Dean Marlowe and into the arms of Cardona. The senior bobbled the ball for what seemed like an eternity. Four juggles of the football later, Coon came up with the ball.
ÒI thought he was going to catch it honestly because he was juggling it and he had it in his hands and popped it up,Ó Coon said. ÒI knew I had to make a play on the ball in order to get the ball to the offense.Ó
It was the defining moment in a hard-fought, but sloppy game played by both teams.
ÒThe ball tipped up, he was kind of stumbling and tried to tip it back up and for one second it looked like he had it, but the ball bounced up again,Ó Valentini said. ÒThatÕs the difference Ñ inches.Ó
Three plays later, Coon appeared to wrap up a critical victory for Holy Cross (2-4, 2-2 CHSFL), which had lost three straight games, when he lunged forward for a first down. But the Knights were victimized by a bad spot and instead had to kick away on fourth-and-inches, giving Mount (2-4, 2-2) one more chance.
