Eastern Wayne's Dove boots game-winning field goal in first OT

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on September 19, 2015 11:20 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

"Let's wrap Brennan (Dove) in a big 'ole sweaty hug," Eastern Wayne senior lineman Will Sorrells said to teammate Ethan Molloy.

The two sandwiched the junior place-kicker between them.

Dove humbly smiled.

But it was a well-deserved reward. Dove easily converted a 19-yard field goal in the first overtime, and lifted Eastern Wayne past West Carteret, 39-36, on Friday evening.

Dove had missed a potential game-winning, 33-yard field goal attempt toward the end of regulation.

"I was overthinking and missed it," said Dove, whose try hooked wide left from the right hash mark. "That (second) one was a little closer, so it was a little bit easier. I just tried not to think about it, pretended like it didn't matter if I made it or missed it."

Dove's game-deciding boot came after the Warriors' defense stopped the Patriots on their first OT possession. Molloy recorded two of his season- and career-high four quarterback sacks as Eastern Wayne forced West Carteret (0-5 overall) to turn the ball over on downs.

Warriors head coach Phil Gray considered it payback.

He opted to defend the end zone first since the defense had given up two big scoring plays to the Patriots. Plus, the unit had fresh legs since it forced two fourth-quarter turnovers and the offense held the ball for nine-plus minutes.

"I was pretty confident Brennan would make the first (field goal)," Molloy said. "When she didn't, I knew our defense would hold them. I had faith in our defense. I know our defense is legit. I know we can make a stop when we need it."

The teams combined to score 11 touchdowns on 23 offensive possessions. During a 22-minute stretch, West Carteret found the end zone on four of five drives.

Luis Perez also took a 70-yard kickoff return to the house.

Rodney Mitchell's 3-yard plunge put the Patriots in front 36-29 with 1:20.7 remaining in the third quarter.

"Our offensive line started to click a little bit better in the second half," said WC first-year head coach Daniel Barrow Jr., who graduated from Rosewood High School.

"(The line) was pretty porous the first quarter or so, but that group really solidified later in the game. I thought they played much better as the game went on. That was probably the biggest thing."

Devonte Corum's 1-yard dive and Dove's fourth successful PAT knotted the game at 36-36 with 10:13 to go. KK Best picked off Mitchell on West Carteret's next possession, but the Warriors stalled.

The Pats fumbled the punt.

Eastern Wayne's Kris Wells recovered the ball, the offense burned some time with its running game and faced fourth down at the Patriots' 16. Dove missed the field goal.

Gray promised she'd get another chance.

Molloy and fellow senior linemen Shaquan Bell and Keyshawn Johnson made it happen as they recorded stops behind the line of scrimmage in OT.

"That was tough," Barrow Jr. said. "It kind of snowballed on us. We just couldn't recover. Kudos to them and that kicker, she's got ice water running through her veins to miss that one at the end of regulation and come back and just split the uprights there.

"That was impressive."

And redemption.