4190664068e691b0f87b3def73919886.jpg

Colts rally but fall short in thriller

MYAL FOOTBALL

   Anyone who made the trip to Metuchen to watch the Manville Colts play in the first annual Dawg Bowl saw a fourth quarter worth the entrance fee. The Colts played the last game of the tournament against Washington Rock, a Mountain Valley Conference team.
   With spotty practices during the weeks since the playoff loss to Kenilworth, the Colts got a slow start and were down 7-0 at the half. At the end of the third quarter the Colts were down 21-7.
   Mergim Berisha made an interception in the end zone to stop a big Rock drive. The Colts drove down the field with the running of Matias Gualtieri, Altaron Robinson, LJ Abner, Andre Heredia and Joey Veglatte. The first seven Colt points came on a Gualtieri 10-yard TD followed by Heredia scoring the extra point. Gualtieri followed with a six-yard touchdown run and Veglatte’s extra point cut the Washington Rock lead to 21-14.
   An on-side kick by Veglatte after the score was recovered by Gualtieri. A few plays later, Gualtieri ran the ball 40 yards to make the score 21-20. On the extra point, a penalty moved the ball to the 8-yard line, but a sweep put Gualtieri in the end zone for one point to tie the game at 21-21.
   With little time left and Rock with the ball, Veglatte made a tackle for an 18-yard loss. On fourth down and one second away from going into overtime, Washington Rock ran the ball around the right end about 60 yards for a TD, which ended the game 27-21.
   The bowl game coordinator commended both teams on good play and an exciting finish.
   Defensively, the Colts were led by Veglatte with six tackles followed by Jake Babich with five, Robinson with four and Isiah Morgan, Mergim and Jake Caswell all with three.
   Others participating in the game were Sergio Mora, Darnell, Marc Hagin, Angelo, Jonathan Rizk, Arber Berisha and Nick Harenza. The Colt cheerleaders also showed some team spirit at the game.
   In two weeks, the Colts are looking to play a second bowl game in Pennsylvania.
—Alison Mathewson