Thellan snags a victory

DANVERS -- After the shakiest start of his career, Brockton southpaw quarterback Jessy Resende had another chance in overtime: He dropped back and fired into heavy coverage. Senior wide receiver Nathan Thellan, who already had had a touchdown reception waved off, came down with the jump ball, and the score, on the Boxers' first possession in OT.

Brockton's defense forced the run-oriented Eagles into a fourth-down situation. Sophomore quarterback Scott Darby underthrew Eric Keohan's slant at the goal line and No. 8 St. John's Prep fell, 14-7, in overtime, to No. 1 Brockton at Cronin Memorial Field.

''Jessy threw it up there, despite having a bad day, and Thellan made a great catch," said Brockton coach Peter Colombo, who didn't hesitate to call Resende's number though his quarterback had been shut down by the Eagle defense. ''Jessy and I are together all the way. He's my guy."

Resende finished regulation 2-for-28 passing for minus-1 yard. Routinely rushed in the pocket, he failed to connect with numerous open receivers, overthrowing many. Resende credited the St. John's defense for his frustration.

''They had a good D-line, I guess I'll give them that," said Resende. ''We came out flat and they got a lot of penetration but we were still in the position to make the play. I threw it up for [Thellan], I knew he'd come down with it."

Thellan appeared to have scored the game-winner with 2:41 remaining in regulation. Coming from the split-end position along the home sideline, Thellan executed a perfect end-around, cutting upfield outside the far end, eluding tacklers to score from 58 yards out. However, the Boxers were flagged with an illegal block at the Prep 31.

The poetic justice of the winning score was not lost on Thellan.

''It was like a story written," he said. ''It didn't faze me [when the TD was called off]. I don't blame teammates. I immediately turned my sights to the next play. Then, [in OT], I knew I had to step up. I'm a captain and I had to make a big play."

Brockton opened the scoring with 12 seconds remaining in the first half. Senior running back Junior Penn's 2-yard TD , followed by Paul Branco's extra-point kick, gave the Boxers a 7-0 lead. The score was set up by a 31-yard fumble recovery by Johnny Ray Barnes. Senior linebacker Michael Murray stripped Darby, Barnes picked up the fumble at the Prep 43 and rumbled to the 12 before he was caught from behind.

After a scoreless third quarter, with each team angling for field position, Darby connected on fourth and 4 with junior Ryan McSweeney on a perfect 33-yard fade in the end zone. Trevor O'Brien's point after tied the score at 7 at the start of the fourth quarter.

On their next drive, the Boxers drove to the Prep 17, where Paul Branco's 35-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right.

After a three-and-out defensive stop, Brockton took over near midfield. But Prep's Peter Mugford hit Resende at the line of scrimmage, jarring the ball loose. Eagle Benjamin Pyburn dove on the loose ball.

The Eagle offense again failed to move the chains, turning over the ball on downs at the Brockton 40-yard line. Resende, who had missed on 12 consecutive throws, aired it out on first down. The ball reached Korey Brown in stride at the Prep 32 but, with no defenders in his path to the end zone, Brown failed to corral the pass.

Thellan's could-have-been-game-winning end around came two plays later. After two more errant Resende throws, Brockton turned over the ball again.

''They played great D," said Colombo. ''They mixed their coverages, brought pressure, and forced Jessy to throw before he was ready."

Prep drove across midfield but ran out of clock, forcing overtime.

Starting with possession, Resende connected with Thellan on second down from the 11. Branco's kick extended the lead to 14-7.

The Eagles drove to the 5 but on third down, junior Joey Louis-Jeune sacked Darby for a 7-yard loss. Darby underthrew Keohan to end it.

''That's high school football for you," said Colombo. ''It doesn't have to be pretty. Just hang in there and make a few big plays."