Avon Old Farms wins 29-28 NEPSAC thriller over Dexter Southfield

BROOKLINE The intriguing aspect of this year s revamped NEPSAC alignment Sometimes there are games that deliver and then particular In an instant classic Avon Old Farms identified out just why Saturday evening Junior quarterback Matthew Baer yards passing yards rushing three touchdowns scampered for the game-winning -yard points with left in regulation as the Winged Beavers - remained perfect with an unforgettable - road win over Dexter Southfield It was a massive championship for sure Baer stated This competition had our whole entire season on the line so we knew we had to drive up two and a half hours to make it happen We executed We fell short on various plays but we made sure we kept grinding it out to win this championship It was massive For the majority of the first half it appeared Avon Old Farms might coast as the Winged Beavers methodically worked up the field milking clock as they continued to capitalize on big plays Baer rushed for a pair of touchdowns during the first two quarters of play including a three-yard amount that gave his company a - edge with to play before intermission However whenever Dexter Southfield - took the field rising quarterback Rory Funke was able to make big plays The sophomore sprinted into the end zone with a three-yard touchdown rush as the second quarter expired as Dexter Southfield cut its deficit to - at the break Dexter Southfield received the ball to open the second half and Funke discovered a groove The sophomore broke off a -yard touchdown run with left in the third then punched in a two-point rush rallying his group back to tie things at -all Once the final frame got underway chaos ensued as the undefeated NEPSAC programs traded blows After Funke guided Dexter Southfield into the red zone senior running back Lamarri Sanchez-Colemnan bowled his way to paydirt with a one-yard touchdown rush as Dexter Southfield pulled ahead for the first time all night with a - lead Just seconds later Avon Old Farms responded Off an end-around Mason Patras finished off a quick drive with an -yard touchdown scamper Then Baer connected with wideout Johnny Gingeruha for a two-point pass knotting things up at -all with remaining Dexter Southfield proceeded to march into enemy territory on the ensuing possession and Funke pulled off another miraculous play This time the sophomore broke free off a quarterback keeper then darted up the sideline for a -yard touchdown rush to put his association back in the lead However a two-point attempt came up short and Dexter Southfield clinged to a - advantage with left Baer and his teammates took the field looking to pull off a game-tying or winning drive Facing fourth down with the contest on the line at the Dexter Southfield Baer scrambled to his left Then the quarterback saw a lane I saw a gap open up Baer commented And I just ran The junior made his moment count taking the carry all the way home before sliding in the end zone Gianluca Consentino drilled the go-ahead extra point try and Avon Old Farms had seized a - lead with ticks left The Winged Beavers defense came up big with an interception on Dexter Southfield s next drive icing the incredible win The triumph essentially put Avon Old Farms in line to play in this year s New England championship Winged Beavers coach Jon Wholley was ecstatic When the going gets tough the tough gotta get going laughed Wholley At the end of the day our theme of the week was that we couldn t feel pressure we have to apply it We did everything that we could to apply it They were fighting with a blowtorch too They did a great job I can t be more proud of our offense Matt and the offense the grit and toughness they established and just the composure These guys have done everything right on and off the field I couldn t ask for a better band It s not surprising that when things got the toughest they got their best Gingeruha added nine receptions for yards receiving for Avon Old Farms Funke was the catalyst for Dexter Southfield all night finishing with yards passing to go with yards rushing and three touchdowns himself We commented in our postgame huddle that we are going to find out what kind of football group we really are announced Dexter Southfield coach Casey Day After facing adversity really for the first time all season coming off a loss Losing by one to a football unit like that That battle could have gone either way Losing to a great football unit by a point there s no shame in that All of our goals are still in place and hopefully this loss comes back and is something that we can build on in the future