Easton comes back in final minute to shock North Caroline in instant classic

EASTON, MD.- Behind a last minute touchdown from Ryan O’Connor to Jonathan Pope to cut the North Caroline lead to one followed by a two point conversion to Jarin Winters, the Easton Warriors came back down seven late in the fourth to defeat North Caroline 15-14.

After a long Eithan Dvorack touchdown run to end the first half, the Bulldogs took a 7-0 lead into the break. The game went back and forth in the third, both teams able to move the ball in-between the twenties but unable to get into the end zone as North Caroline’s seven point lead carried into the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, the Warriors offense began to pick up steam. On their first drive of the quarter Ryan O’Connor hit John Carrieri in the back of the end zone to tie the game up at 7 with 10:24 to play. On the ensuing NC drive, the Bulldogs chewed up three minutes of clock and retook the lead off a Dvorack one yard TD run. The teams traded unsuccessful drives and with two minutes to play, Easton go the ball with no timeouts at their own 25 yard line needing a touchdown and the extra point to force overtime. After a fourth down first down run by O’Connor, the Delaware Blue Hen commit hit senior receiver Nate Book who brought down the insane toe tap catch to set up the offense inside the ten yard line. A few plays later, O’Connor would find Jonathan Pope in the back of the end zone to cut the lead to just one with 45 seconds to play. Thats where the big decision came into play, go for the win and the two point conversion or play it safe and play for overtime? It don’t take long for Easton Head Coach Pat McGlinchey to make that decision as he sent his offense back out onto the field as O’Connor found a wide open JArin Winters in the end zone to take the Warriors first lead of the game.

With just 45 seconds to get into field goal range, the Bulldogs managed to get the ball inside the forty for a long field goal try but it fell a few yards short as Easton held on for the 15-14 win in the instant classic.

Coach McGlinchey and QB Ryan O’Connor talk about the last second win over North Caroline