Colonials Football Still Searching For First Win of 2013

Written by Mike Drake

The Morristown Colonials football team lost a 13-10 heartbreaker in overtime last Friday night before a capacity crowd of over 1700 in Roxbury. Despite an outstanding display of defensive, takeaway football that resulted in five Roxbury turnovers, the Colonials were unable to take advantage of the turnovers until just under two minutes left in the first half. 

The Colonials had opened the game by stunning the Roxbury home fans with an opening kickoff return of 85 yards for a touchdown by the junior speedster, Jordan Powell.  However, the brilliant return was nullified by a call of a “block in the back”.  Shortly after, the Colonials were forced to punt, but soon came up with the first of four outstanding takeaways in the first half.

Junior defensive end, Anton Buchner pounced on a fumbled handoff, deep in the Gaels backfield at the Roxbury 11 yard line. Junior Jordan Powell blasted his way to the goal line on three successive carries up the middle. Junior QB, Dallas McCall then took it in for the score on a QB sneak running right behind the devastating power drive block of senior center and captain, Brian Bishop.

After a successful point after by steady sophomore, Ethan Bolson, the Colonials went into halftime leading last year’s state champs. The Colonials’ 7-0 lead silenced a raucous “Pro Roxbury” filled stadium under the lights.

Colonials senior inside linebacker, Justin Danielson, who played an outstanding game all night, with six tackles and one sack, came up with a beautiful interception of a Peter Bartek pass.  The Colonials displayed the tough, hardnosed defensive brand of football that they are known for throughout the night.  Senior, inside linebacker, Freddy Ruiz led the team with seven tackles, and seniors Joey Murphy and Danny Supple added six apiece.  Senior defensive end, Brandon Blaise had 4.5 tackles, despite battling double teams throughout the night, and senior Justin Northern intercepted a key pass..

Both defenses dominated the game until early in the fourth quarter, when Roxbury finally put together a drive that required two fourth down conversions.  Once again, the Gaels benefitted from a questionable call from the officials inside the Colonials five yard line.  After running for no gain on two plays, the Gaels were finally able to slip into the end zone on a second effort dive by Craig Roumes.  After the kick, the Colonials and Gaels remained tied at 7-7 until the end of the game, forcing overtime.

Roxbury won the toss and chose to give the Colonials the first possession in OT.  After the offense stalled, Ethan Bolson connected on a clutch 34 yard field goal to give the Colonials a 10-7 lead. The Gaels then took over and after it looked like the vaunted Colonials’ defense was about seal a win, the Gaels scored the winning touchdown on a play action, 10 yard pass to Joe Maugeri from Grant Dixon.  It’s ironic, that the very aggressiveness that allowed the Colonials to play such a staunch defensive battle, proved to be their undoing by making them vulnerable to the fake run/pass, game deciding TD.

Despite the loss, the Colonials proved they have come a long way by going toe to toe with last season’s state champs.