Goal-line stand preserves JFK's 28-20 triumph

The Eagles stopped St. Thomas Aquinas inches from the goal as time expired.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
WARREN -- Warren JFK High football coach Anthony Napolet is happy that his team is 7-1, but that may be the only thing that pleases Napolet.
The Eagles took a 21-7 lead on St. Thomas Aquinas late in the third quarter and then had to stop the Knights' best athlete, Kendall Washington, just inches from the goal line as time expired to preserve a 28-20 victory here at Mollenkopf Stadium.
"Our defense stinks, we can't stop anybody," Napolet said. "The only reason that we are 7-1 is that we're outscoring everybody."
Napolet did praise his offense, especially tailback Anthony Elzy and quarterback J.J. Townsend who accounted for all of the Eagles 328 total yards against the Knights.
Elzy ran for 152 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Townsend had 51 yards rushing on eight carries and completed 6 of 12 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 63-yard scoring run nullified by a penalty.
The Eagles' other score came on a 77-yard pass interception return by junior Anthony Kokal.
Grateful for star runners
"Thank God for Elzy and Townsend," Napolet said. "Sooner or later, our lack of defense is going to catch up to us."
Aquinas (5-2) made a big comeback in the final quarter and even lost starting quarterback Matt Sams in the final minute of play.
That forced Knights coach Tim Tyrell to switch Washington over to quarterback for the final minute, and he led the team to one score and was knocking at the door for another when the clock ran out.
"I thought he was in," said Tyrell, a former Ursuline High and Youngstown State standout. "I even ran down to the goal line and it looked like he got the ball in.
"It was a shame these kids had to lose, they've worked so hard," Tyrell said. "Right now at 5-3, we're out of the playoffs, but if we win our last two we're back in it."
The victory probably locked up a playoff berth for the Division V Eagles, who were ranked No. 4 in Region 17 of the computer playoff ratings.
Eagles take lead
The Eagles jumped out on top on its opening series, taking just four plays including a 39-yard scamper by Elzy that set up his 13-yard scoring jaunt.
The Knights tied it up by driving 83 yards in 13 plays with Max Stauffenger scoring on a five yard run.
Townsend led the Eagles into the lead late in the second quarter, as he tossed a 27-yard pass to Elzy and then hit a wide open James Broadbent for a 51-yard scoring strike.
The Knights, who missed scoring opportunities in the second and third quarter when Jordan Smith missed field goals of 39 and 30 yards, then made their only big mistake of the game.
Sams, who had the Knights moving deep into JFK territory, overthrew his receiver and Kokal picked it off at his own 23 and raced untouched 77 yards to put the Eagles up 21-7.
But Sams and Washington brought the Knights back as they connected on a 20 yard scoring pass, but the PAT was blocked.
Thought game was sealed
The Eagles thought they had put the game out of reach with a 65-yard scoring drive that Elzy capped off with a 1-yard run with 2:31 remaining.
But Sams came back and hit five passes in the next drive before getting injured at the Eagles 3-yard line. Washington took over and scored on the first play with 32 seconds remaining.
Smith then executed the onside kickoff and the Knights had the ball at midfield.
On the second play, Washington connected with Vinny Schneider for 36 yards to the 13, and then hit Mark Presutto for 12 yards to the one with one second remaining.
After a timeout, Washington tried to bull his way over, but was stopped just inched short as time expired.
mollica@vindy.com