|
|
|
|
|
Andrew Donoghue sets OCHS passing record in thrilling victory By TOM WILLIAMS (10/16/16) It will take more than a few minutes to analyze Ocean City High School's 40-37 win over Middle Township on Friday night. OCHS senior quarterback Andrew Donoghue set a new school record with 349 passing yards while throwing four touchdowns and running for another.
The two teams combined for 910 yards of total offense. And neither team punted. The game ended with Middle threatening. The Panthers, trailing 40-37, started from their own 22 and seemed to score the lead touchdown on a third down play from the OCHS 18 when quarterback Matt Harris rolled out and found senior John Zarfati alone in the end zone. But a flag was thrown. It was ruled that Harris had crossed the line of scrimmage before releasing the pass. Videos show that it was a very close call. That penalty also includes a loss of down, which made it fourth down. An incomplete pass ended Middle's possession and allowed the Raiders to kneeldown twice for their second win of the season and their first on the new turf field. There was also controversy on the final play of the first half. Harris had scored on a quarterback sneak but Middle was flagged for illegally assisting the runner. They pushed him from behind. There was four seconds left and, after the officials stepped off the five yards, they started the clock. When it ran down to zeroes and Middle was still not at the line of scrimmage, the Raiders celebrated. But the officials corrected their mistake (the clock starts with the snap from center after that penalty) and Middle got a final play. Harris hit Zee Bland in the end zone for a touchdown and a 29-18 halftime lead. Senior Matt Lashley had a big game. He caught six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. That included a terrific catch in the first quarter after a pass was deflected, a 56-yard score when he looked like a champion sprinter and a 14-yard touchdown catch that gave Ocean City the lead for good. Lashley also made six tackles, including three solos, as he played more than usual on defense because of the game-ending injury to Dan Walsh early in the second quarter. Junior Issac Robertson also had another great game, rushing for 45 yards, catching three passes for 95 yards (including a 79-yard TD) and making eight tackles, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble on defense. But the big story was Donoghue. The 6-1 senior entered the game having thrown and completed more passes than any QB in OCHS history. He also led all quarterbacks from Cape-Atlantic League schools in attempts and completions this season. On Friday he was exceptional. Donoghue completed 16 of 26 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns. That erased the school record for yards passing in a game (267 yards) set by Al Genz in 1999 against Holy Cross. Donoghue also ran the ball for a TD and a key first down. In addition to the two TD passes to Lashley and one to Robertson, Donoghue also connected with Luciano Lubrano for a 22-yard score. The win moved Ocean City into a tie for ninth in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 3 power ratings. The top eight teams will qualify for the playoffs. Six of the eight teams ahead of OCHS have already played six games which means they only have two games that count before the deadline. The Raiders have three - at Mainland, Lower Cape May at home and at St. Joseph. Middle Township remained in the Group 2 playoff picture, finishing the weekend seventh in South Jersey Group 2. With road games at Pitman and Pleasantville remaining, the Panthers look like a good bet to qualify for the playoffs, though a home game is a longshot after Friday's loss. Check out the complete box score of Donoghue's record-breaking game at OceanCitySports.com EXTRA POINTS: Andrew Donoghue increased his career passing yardage to 2,588, the third highest in OCHS history. In the Middle Township game he moved past Jordan Torroni and Chris Curran...Both Dan Walsh and Anthony Kenny, who left Friday's game with injuries, are expected back against Mainland...Middle had the ball for 29 minutes, Ocean City for 19 in the game...Shawn Scott has scored eight TDs for the Panthers this season...Brandon Lin led the Raiders with 15 tackles, including three solos. He also blocked an extra point. Tom Meehan and Alex Morales each made 10, many of Morales tackles against Shawn Scott in the second half. Brandon Lashley and Garret Benvenuti each made four solos...Matt Harris not only passed for 130 yards and ran for 36, he led the Panthers in tackles with seven, including four solos...Ocean City is now plus-4 in takeaways this season...you can watch the OCHS-MTHS game online at OceanCitySports.com, along with previous games. Complete season stats and prior boxscores are also available... |
