By Tim Heaton
The Colonials got big games from sophomore Jha’mil King and junior Jesse Unger, with three touchdowns apiece, to edge the Marauders, 49-42, in a double-overtime thriller under the lights in Mount Olive on Friday.
King punched in the game-winner on a 10-yard run for Morristown; he ran for 251 yards and hauled in two passes for another 82 yards on the night, before a standing-room-only crowd. The victory boosts the Colonials’ record to 2-1.
For the home squad (1-2), Danny Colabella and Jason Drury each scored a pair touchdowns.
In the opening minutes, it looked like the Colonials were going to run away with the game. Sami Cazimoski, Devontae Jonah and Luke Jackson kept the Marauders pickled up on offense. Then on a forth-and-short on the Morristown 20, Cazimoski made a jarring tackle to turn the ball over on downs.
On the next play, from the Morristown 20, King took a screen pass 80 yards for a score. Once King got to the corner, there was no way the home team defenders could catch him. After Ethan Bolson’s extra point, it was 7-0 with 7:45 left in the first quarter.
Mount Olive nearly ran the kickoff all the way back; Bolson saved a touchdown. Kickers generally don’t relish the role of tackler, and special teams would be a spear in the side of Morristown all night.
The Marauders began to pick apart the secondary, but on a key third down, Eugene Hayes snared a pass and nearly broke it all the way.
Taking over at mid-field, Morristown’s Drew Chilson ran over several defenders for 10 yards. King dashed for 10, then 17 yards. Mount Olive stiffened with bread-and-butter defense, but Unger relishes this type of hard- nosed football and gained his first TD, making it 14-0 after Andrew Mandel and Bolson teamed up on the PAT.
Photos by David Bolson and Randi Unger. Please click icon below for captions.
Mount Olive scored on the next series. But King responded with another 60-yard dash, to make it 21-7. Early in the second, the Marauders continued attacking the Morristown secondary, but Colin Burke made an interception, one of several great plays from him. After a couple of three-and-outs from each team, it seemed the vinegar had run out of the game, which stood at 21-14, Colonials, at intermission.
In the second half, Mount Olive opened with a running attack, but Cam Boswell and the rest of the Morristown backfield stepped up.
On the Colonials’ opening drive, King surged ahead for 30 yards, then another 14. Chilson burst through several defenders for 12 yards and then, from the Mount Olive 20, he took the ball to the goal line in a 15-yard rugby scrum. A few plays later, Unger scored another TD, giving the Colonials a 28-14 lead after the extra point.
From here, Morristown and Mount Olive traded touchdowns. Unger scored again. With 4:26 remaining, Mount Olive tied the game at 35-all.
Morristown went three-and-out with 2:40 left on the clock. The defense had to keep Mount Olive’s talented offense in check until overtime. One play seldom decides a contest, but Samari Robinson came through with two game-changers this time: Back-to-back sacks for more than 20 yards, forcing overtime.
Mount Olive scored in the first O.T., then Chilson scored, this time without the pile on top of him.
In the second overtime, Morristown got the ball first. King scored again, forcing Mount Olive to respond.
Cazimoski, Jackson and Alejandro Lopez stopped the Marauders’ rush. On fourth and goal, Justin Burke capped a standout performance by breaking up the last pass attempt.
Morristown takes on Roxbury at home on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015. Start time is 2:30 pm.
Tim Heaton is former president of the Morristown High School Football Boosters. Follow @MotownNation and #Quinning.
