Photo by Alan M. Dumoff/More photos www.ccdphotoalbum.com
ABSECON – Holy Spirit needed a good game after last week’s tough loss to St. Joe’s (Hammonton). Their defense gave them exactly what they needed as they routed Mainland 42-7 in Absecon last Friday night. The win also snapped a 15-game winning streak by Mainland dating back to 2007.
Quay Williams and Anthony Sarao seemed to be everywhere for the Spartans, as they took advantage of Mainland’s youth and broke open a close game with some timely plays.
After Spirit had taken a 14-0 lead on a touchdown run by Nigel Jones (23 carries, 133 yards, 2 TD’s) and pass by Joe Callahan (7/17-109, 1 touchdown) to Troy Beck, Mainland scored to close it to 14-7 on a Tom Bradway to Ed Irizarry 20 yard strike.
Enter Williams, as he recovered a fumble at the Spirit two-yard line just before the half to preserve the lead. He struck again, twice within 59 seconds, at the start of the third quarter as he forced a fumble that Sarao picked up and scored from six yards out. On the next series by Mainland, Williams read a screen pass perfectly, intercepted and scored from 25 yards out and the blowout was on at 28-7.
“We needed this game for our own mental health going into a bye week,” said Spirit Coach Charlie Roman. “The fumble at the end of the half was the biggest play of the game. I’ve never given a game ball to anyone, but Quay (Williams) got one tonight. It was one of the great individual performances I’ve seen.”
Jones would garner his second TD of the night while running mate Donta Pollock scored from three yards out to end the scoring.
Kicker Tommy Worthington made all six of Spirit’s extra points on the evening.
“That’s the way we’ve tried to play all year,” said Williams. “We were told to watch for screens and I read it nice (on the interception).”
“This was huge for us after last week (loss to St. Joe),” said Sarao. “They (Mainland) put it on us last year so we wanted to get back at them some too. We have to take this momentum and make our run now (for the playoffs).”
Extra Points: Sarao, who has been getting some interest from Division I schools, certainly helped himself with the TD along with an interception and four sacks. Williams also caught one pass for 27 yards from Callahan. The rivalry was evident as the crowd was enormous lining the field at Spirit. Holy Spirit controls its own destiny now, as a good end of the season run could boost their playoff hopes and maybe host a playoff game. Interesting note, Mainland is coached by Spirit grad Bob Coffey and Bradway is the son of former Jets GM Terry Bradway, also a Spartan alumnus.
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