Last-Minute TD Lifts Jefferson to Homecoming Win

Danny Brown grabbed a 35-yard touchdown pass from J. R. Reese with 41 seconds left in regulation to lift Jefferson to a 21-14 triumph over Hanover Park on homecoming night in Jefferson. The Falcons rallied from a 14-7 halftime deficit to advance to 4-1 on the season.

The duo of Reese and Brown also hooked up on a 25-yard pass to knot the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter. Reese was also responsible Jefferson’s second score on a 1-yard plunge to tie the game at 14-all midway through the third quarter. The win gives Jefferson terrific momentum with next week’s battle against Madison looming.

Hanover Park dropped to 3-2 and may have been hurt immeasurably when its quarterback Jimmy Sivolella was knocked down while kicking a punt and left the game with a severe leg injury. 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Total

Hanover Park (3-2)

07

07

00

00

14

Jefferson (4-1)

00

07

07

07

21

IN SHORT
The game turned in the third quarter of the contest. Hanover Park led 14-7 at the half and had the opening kickoff to start the third quarter. However, the Jefferson defense stopped the Hornets on six plays on the Falcons 40. Jefferson marched 60 yards in six plays with the help of a 25-yard run by Reece, who plunged in from the one to tie the game at 14-all with 9:46 in the third quarter.

It was in the next series where Sivolella was injured when he was run into on a kick. Hoberman nearly got the Hornets into the end zone after the roughing penalty kept the drive alive but it stalled again and a field goal attempt was missed early in the fourth quarter.

The teams then exchanged possessions. Jefferson got the ball back on a punt and started from its own 22. The winning drive included two 16-yard pass plays from Reece to Vincent Ginefra and the 35-yard TD pass on a screen from Reese to Brown which was helped by an outstanding block by Ginefra on the corner.

FALCON OF THE GAME
– J. R Reese, Quarterback—He does it all. He rushed for over 50 yards, threw the ball for nearly 200 yards and when the game was on the line he took the Falcons on a game-winning drive. His ability to both pass and run makes his a very dangerous player in the eyes of Jefferson’s opponents.

TOP FALCONS OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
PASSING: – JR Reese (11 of 17 for 188 yards and two touchdowns)
RUSHING: Kyle Neuschatz (3 carries for 73 yards)
RECEIVING: Daniel Brown (four catches for 99 yards, two touchdowns)

TOUGH OPPONENT
Jimmy Sivolella, senior quarterback — Sivolella is dangerous on the ground and in the air. He rushed for 73 yards and one touchdown. He only completed three passes for 72 yards but one was a 60-yard bomb to Jaquill Scott. He is also the team’s punter. When he was injured and hobbled off the field in the third quarter it took away the Hornets most talented player and fiercest leader.

THEY SAID IT
”I got the ball and I’m backing up. Daniel is just wide open. Daniel Brown is always making plays. He got the ball, ran it around end and Vincent made a great block for him on the corner and Danny did the rest. … Vinnie (Ginefra) is a silent but deadly player. He doesn’t make those flashy plays but when you need someone to go to he is one of the most reliable players we have. When I’m scrambling around he always finds an open spot. … We spread the (Hanover Park defense) out a little bit. We put in a lot of motions because they slanted to wherever the motion went. We were able to attack it up inside and throw it over the top of them.’’—Jefferson quarterback J. R. Reese.

"We just had to have faith in J.R. If things don’t go your way every single time you just have to believe in each other, believe in the team, believe in yourself. You had to keep having confidence. We knew going into that fourth quarter that we had the momentum. We believed in J.R. J.R. passed the ball and it just worked out. … Going into the half we said, 'get a three and out, get the offense the ball and we will score.' We just had to gain the momentum back. It’s the last homecoming for our seniors. We wanted to win it for them. It was a big game for us."–Jefferson receiver Vincent Ginefra    

“I knew the play was coming. J.R. put it on the money. Ginefra gave me a great block. It was just heart. It was all heart from there. I just kept on running with it. I just need a block on that last guy and it was just a footrace. … We mix it up a lot. We have a lot of powerful players. We like to share the ball. … We are a great second half team. All these games we have won. We won in the second half. We talked about coming out even stronger. Defense needed to step up and that’s what we did. The defense got the momentum back. Once we got it back it was unbelievable especially with the crowd we had tonight,’’—Jefferson wide receiver Daniel Brown

Up Next—Jefferson at Madison next Friday.