“I didn’t think it was going to go in — I knew it was going to go in,” said Willey. “Vince Snoonian works his absolute tail off, so when he’s the guy that’s standing there, and the whole thing is on his shoulders, that’s the best thing that could happen to us.”
Snoonian fit the football neatly between the uprights as time expired, giving BB&N a 24-22 Homecoming win over visiting Milton Academy, a NEPSAC Class B rival.
“[I] just [treated] it like a routine kick — no different than an extra point. Just focus . . . and drive the ball,” said Snoonian. “Mental and physical toughness — it’s something we believe in, it’s one of our core values. Our guys really pulled through.”
It was an emotional win for BB&N (4-1), whose captain, Liam Cunningham, was carted off after a serious injury. Cunningham’s injury — his status was unclear after the game — only gave the Knights another reason to fight, and seconds later, Christian Flores’s touchdown put BB&N ahead, 21-14.
“Liam Cunningham had a real bad injury, and our team — at that point I knew that there was no way our team was going to allow us to lose that game,” Willey said. “It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t perfect, but we got it done.”
Milton Academy (3-2) didn’t go down without a fight. With two huge passes, the Mustangs galloped down the field, scoring a touchdown on a 52-yard pass from Qur’an McNeill to Deacon Evriviades. Milton Academy opted to go for the 2-point conversion, pulling ahead, 22-21, after a miraculous catch by Ben Allen.
But even then, BB&N had a level of composure: Willey knew he had quarterback Damon Taylor on his team. And in big moment after big moment, Taylor found ways to keep the chains moving and give Snoonian a shot.
“Damon Taylor was lights out,” Willey said. “Not just good — lights out. Damon Taylor is a winner. Damon Taylor is a ballplayer. Damon Taylor is a guy I love to be around. He did a great job setting up Snoonian for probably the best kick I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Added Taylor: “The offense was ready. We knew this was going to be a Super Bowl-like game and it was going to come down to the last play.
“In the end, it did.”
Dexter Southfield 23, Loomis Chaffee (Conn.) 10 — Quarterback Rory Funke was the standout in Dexter’s NEPSAC Class A win. The 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pound sophomore from Needham completed 9 of 12 passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns, adding 125 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
“He’s a leader, he’s incredibly tough, he plays with so much heart and passion,” Dexter coach Casey Day said. “Whether it’s rushing or passing, he does it all.”
Funke started off strong in the first quarter, keeping the ball for himself and scoring a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Then, in possibly the most important play of the game, he tossed a 9-yard pass to Gavin Marzouki (3 catches, 44 yards) for an 11-point lead just seconds before halftime.
“[Marzouki] made a great catch. That was a big momentum play in the game,” Day said.
Dexter (6-0) kept rolling in the third quarter when Funke connected with Jack Riordan for a 16-yard scoring strike. Dexter’s defense came up big in the fourth quarter with a sack that led to a safety, which sealed the victory.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Day said. “We did a great job defensively all day long and that played a big part in the win.”
Brooks 13, Nobles 12 — Jagger Carreiro ran for a 3-yard score and caught a 9-yard TD pass from Shane Maguire before intercepting a 2-point conversion attempt to seal a NEPSAC Class C victory for the Eagles (2-3).
Lynn Classical 12, Revere 8 — The Rams (3-4) won their third-straight game behind 93 rushing yards from Gianni McKay and a clutch fourth-quarter interception by Kalu Nasky. Dylan Houen scored from 4 yards out and Angel Ortega dove for a 1-yard score in the Greater Boston League victory.
Rivers 53, Groton 14 — Jalen Morris rushed for 187 yards and four touchdowns in a NEPSAC Group C win for Rivers (4-1). Carl Monks recorded eight receptions for 129 yards and three touchdowns, and Ray Gilkes and Jackson Grove each had a receiving touchdown.
St. Mary’s 24, Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) 22 — The Spartans (4-3) traveled to Philadelphia, where they got touchdowns from Tyren Houen, Michael Sherman, and Jimmy Johnson, plus three extra-points and a field goal from kicker Ryan Esquival in the nonleague win.
St. Sebastian’s 54, Trinity-Pawling 8 — Junior Duke Ciongoli fired four first-half touchdown passes to four receivers, triggering a 48-point first half for the host Arrows (3-2) in the NEPSAC Class B win in Needham. Sophomore Jack Carter of Millis scored his first two varsity TDs, a 9-yard reception and a 53-yard return on a fumble recovery.
Thayer 16, Governor’s Academy 14 — Dray Evriviades connected with Neil Mackinnon on a 28-yard scoring strike in the third quarter and the Tigers (3-2) held off Governors (0-5) in the NEPSAC Class C Group 2 win in Byfield. Drew St. Pierre ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, John Sullivan had an interception, CJ Talabi-Oates registered two sacks, and Will Bewley made 11 tackles..
Wayland 48, Waltham 21 — Mikey Johansson led the Warriors (1-6) with 273 total yards and five total touchdowns, including two rushing scores, in a Dual County League win. Brajae Walton rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown, as well as catching a 5-yard TD. Christian Montoya-Wantuil, Aidan Curry, and Alex Evangelista all caught touchdown passes.
