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Reggies' comeback falls 4 yards short

WEST ANDOVER – Down 21-8 and left for dead in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Division 3A North quarterfinal football playoff game, the Reggies just kept coming.

“At that point, they could have folded, they could have given up,” said Greater Lawrence Tech coach Tony Sarkis. “Seeing the way they fought, right to the end, as a coach, I couldn't be prouder.”

Sarkis' crew ultimately dropped a tough, 21-14, thriller to Ipswich. The Reggies came up 15 yards – just one catch short – and now fall into the non-playoff brackett.

The play call on the 4th-and-goal from the 4 for Greater Lawrence Tech? Magnificent.

The defense by Ipswich junior Matt Rugo? Just a little bit better.

Inside the final two minutes, the Reggies took aim on the potential game-winning score, faking the quarterback sweep that worked so well all day and pulling up to pass.

Greater Lawrence's receiver sold it and was open, QB Kyle Vasconcellos delivered a perfect strike, and Rugo – the safety from out of nowhere – soared through the air, cracking the pass-catcher, just as the ball arrived.

The junior separated football from receiver and winner from loser, all in one highlight-film breakup.

“The kid made a nice play, but we just made some mistakes, two big ones on defense and at least four bad snaps on offense,” said Sarkis. “You just can't do that and win playoff games.”

Greater Lawrence, which falls to 5-3, opened the game ready for bear – or in this case, Tiger – marching 70 yards on six plays for the opening score.

Vasconcellos, who led all rushers with 108 yards on 18 carries, rolled in from the 4-yard line, and Ojany Belliard dove in with the two-point try for an 8-0 lead.

It was almost too easy.

But Ipswich was tough, running off the next 21 points to take the advantage into what proved to be a wild fourth quarter.

Vasconcellos hit Vincent Mammola (4 catches, 64 yards) and O.J. Belliard for gains of 33 and 16, then swept off right tackle, making it first and goal.

On fourth and goal from the four, he pumped a fastball that Mammola somehow gobbled up for a four-yard TD hookup, slicing the lead to 21-14.

When a bad snap forced a late Reggies' punt, things appeared desperate. But linebacker David White stepped in front of a Tigers' receiver and picked off a pass at the Ipswich 35, making for a crazed finish.

Vasconcellos and Belliard carried the Reggies into the red zone on the ground.

On fourth down, though, with 1:36 to play, Greater Lawrence called on Vasconcellos one final time, only on this sweep play he pulled up and fired a pass.

It was on the money, but Rugo's desperation diving hit shook the ball loose.

Greater Lawrence now awaits a non-playoff foe for next week.