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Mariners fall short vs. Purple |
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Thursday, 05 November 2009 |
NARRAGANSETT – With four shots to score the game-tying touchdown from the Classical 10-yard line, the Narragansett football team’s drive ended at the four as the Mariners lost 20-14 to Classical in a non-league game that was the first night game in Narragansett school history.
After a seven-yard Willie Perkins run gave the Mariners first-and-goal from the 10 with just over 2 minutes, 30 seconds left, quarterback Mark Griffith gained five yards on a draw and Perkins picked up a yard on the next play to give Narragansett two shots from the four.
On third down, Perkins was stopped at the line of scrimmage and Griffith (12 carries, 52 yards rushing) was stopped on the quarterback option right at the four to give the ball back to Classical with 1:42 left. Classical picked up a first down on its first play and punted, but the clock ran out during Matt Eldridge’s 13-yard return.
Perkins led the Mariners with 88 yards rushing on 16 carries, including a 16-yard scamper to the right for Narragansett’s first score that, teamed with senior Tyler Casey’s extra point, gave the Mariners a 7-6 lead 54 seconds into the second quarter.
It looked like Narragansett would immediately get the ball back with a chance to build on the lead, but on fourth-and-8 from the Narragansett 41, Classical quarterback Timothy Eng found Alain Moise up the left sideline for a touchdown and a 12-7 lead with 8:09 left in the half.
The Mariners answered with a 10-play, 58-yard drive, which was lengthened on a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from the 50 by Matt Eldridge, who gained six yards on the play.
Six plays later, Eldridge (13 carries, 47 yards) ran left, broke a tackle and sped toward the left pylon for the go-ahead score.
The halftime lead was short-lived, as Classical’s Gdenue Grimes picked off Griffith (1-for-7, 11 yards passing, 2 INTs) at the Narragansett 45 and ran it back to the 34. On the very next play, Classical running back Gian Razzino (2 carries, 36 yards) took a handoff right, back a nice cut back and broke upfield for a 34-yard touchdown.
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