By Drew Johnson ('15)
Usually a sports team will have that one moment that defines an entire season. That moment occurred Friday night in Reading as the Rockets moved past Cambridge with a score of 29-28.
“It was very exciting,” said Coach John Fiore on Tuesday. “It’s one of the benefits of the new playoff system.”
What unfolded in the last two minutes of Friday’s playoff game was something that people in Reading will remember for quite some time. It all started when the Rockets were down 14-20. Starting from their own side of the field, Reading would pull off what the coach described as “direct-quarterback-snap Tebow-type stuff.”
Find out what's happening in Readingfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“That’s what they were giving us,” said Coach Fiore, recalling quarterback Drew Belcher’s run after run after run. “They were leaving their Outside Linebackers real close to the core. Drew did a great job getting his shoulder down and the offensive line really hung tough.”
There were many things about the drive that fans were definitely reflecting upon on the drive home; mostly the fourth-down play on which Belcher ran around the right end into the end zone with just over 1:20 to go.
Find out what's happening in Readingfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
But just like that, Cambridge was back on top with a quick strike, making it 28-21. “There was still plenty of time left,” said Coach Fiore, describing the attitude on the bench in what, at the time, seemed to be the fatal blow to the Rockets’ season. But it wasn’t. Miraculously, the Rockets hit on a quick strike of their own.
“It all kind of came together on that one play,” said the coach. “Rob (DiLoreto) ended up being open and Drew made a great read. All of a sudden, there was no one around Rob and he was running.”
It wasn’t just that the score put Reading in the perfect situation to tie the game up with an extra point in the dying seconds of the game. No, it was something more striking than that.
After lining up for the extra point, the Rockets called a time out and Coach Fiore sent the offense out. “We practice those situations, so we definitely have the ability to make those plays.”
Belcher took the snap and dropped back. With white jerseys all over Reading’s receivers, Liam Keneally emerged on a short out route to the left of Belcher. Belcher threw it, Keneally caught it, and the rest is history.
Sometimes a winning play is as simple as that, but maybe that’s just the beauty of Football.
Reading hosts Waltham this Friday night at 7:00 where they hope to extend their season, as well as their march towards Gillette.
