By Ryan Buck

sports@vindy.com

GIRARD

One second remained on the scoreboard clock at Arrowhead Stadium on Friday night. Girard led visiting Warren JFK, 32-28, after a frantic fourth quarter that saw three lead changes and numerous pivotal plays by both sides.

Warren JFK senior quarterback Dominic Naples rolled to his right, searching for an open receiver in the Girard end zone 33 yards away. Everyone was covered and he scrambled back across the field looking for a target.

“Obviously, it was a ‘Hail Mary,’” Naples said. “We put in John Hilty, who’s a taller receiver who we throw fades to in practice. I just started scrambling to my left. Hilty came out of nowhere and caught the ball. Game over.”

Hilty caught just two passes from his dual-threat quarterback, but made the second one count as the Eagles stunned the Indians, 34-32.

“He just threw one up. It was a prayer,” Hilty said of Naples’ heave. “Dom made a great play to get away from the linebackers and everyone rushing him. I got a good one, I guess. I’ve never had a feeling like that in my life. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”

The JFK sideline mobbed Hilty and the celebration ensued for a program winless against the Indians since 2006.

“It was unbelievable. To do that with all my teammates was great,” Hilty said.

After losing leads of 21-12 and 28-25, Naples drove JFK (3-0) 55 yards in the final 43 seconds with no timeouts.

“Well that’s a typical Girard- Kennedy game,” JFK coach Dave Pappada said. “You’ve got to take your hats off to both kids’ never-say-die attitude and just an exciting high school football game.”

Girard senior quarterback Jordan Graziano, operating out of a fast-paced, no-huddle attack, rushed for two touchdowns and threw for a third in the fourth quarter for the Indians (0-3). But Graziano’s 134 rushing yards and 205 passing yards were upstaged by JFK’s game-winner.

A 14-0 first-half deficit set the Indians back.

“We just didn’t come to play on both sides of the ball,” Girard coach Nick Cochran said. “We made too many mistakes and that happened at the end. That’s what hurts you.”

JFK running back Alec Rossi rushed for 190 yards rushing on 29 attempts and scored two touchdowns behind an aggressive offensive line. He churned out yards and ate up the game clock to keep Graziano off the field.

Trailing 21-19, Girard recovered an onside kick at the JFK 44 and four plays later, Graziano found tight end Evan Delbene for a 44-yard touchdown and a 25-21 Girard lead.

Naples’ 20-yard run with 5:41 left and Graziano’s 19- yard option keeper set the stage for the dramatic final moments.

Girard defensive back Anthony Bryant returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter.