Reid takes charge as Brighton rebounds to beat Marian

EASTON -- Coach James Philip's rebuilding effort at Brighton is nearing completion.

Just a few years after a miserable 0-9 season, a 32-29 Division 4 semifinal victory yesterday over Marian at Stonehill College propelled the Bengals into the Super Bowl for the first time in school history.

"A lot of us on the coaching staff played here during some trying times," said offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Randolph Abraham. "The heart we showed as a team all season and all the way through today's game speaks to the amount of work put in by this staff and by our players."

Brighton jumped to a 14-0 lead on a pair of quarterback sneaks by junior Kameel Lashley . Marian responded with a drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown run by senior cocaptain Andrew Supple, bringing the Mustangs within 14-7 at intermission.

The second half belonged to one man. After two touchdowns to begin the second half put Marian ahead by 7, Brighton senior Dolan Reid answered with an 87-yard kickoff return.

"I was really glad I could pick my team up at that point," said Reid. "It wasn't so much the points on the board that mattered to me at that point but more the spark of fire I feel I lit under my team with that return, which we really needed at that point."

Another Brighton touchdown midway through the fourth pulled the Bengals ahead, 26-21, on a 39-yard pass from Lashley to Manuel Boria . A Mustang turnover on downs on the ensuing possession gave the ball back to Brighton with a chance to wrap it up. But a costly botched snap from center put the ball on the ground, turning possession back to the Mustangs.

Marian capitalized a few moments later as another Supple touchdown run, this time from 8 yards, pulled Marian ahead in a game the Mustangs thought had slipped away.

"No one panicked at this point," said Philip. "Although things were not looking great and all our guys could do was be upset over that costly fumble, we still had two minutes left and we were not going away."

A 55-yard drive culminated in a 10-yard touchdown run by Reid with less than 19 seconds left to play. Brighton's dream season continues in Saturday's Division 4 Super Bowl against West Bridgewater.

"What can I say about these kids besides how proud I am of every one of them," said Philip. "Reid is a special kid and has been our spark plug all season. I just feel so happy he could make the big plays and move us on."