RallyNorth.net

Furey, Owls charge back in wild win

Friday, October, 24 By Dave Dyer
Staff writer

HAMPTON, N.H. — Timberlane junior Derek Furey was not about to be outplayed last night.

As he watched on the sideline while Winnacunnet star receiver Harry Knowles scored his fourth touchdown of the night, returning a kickoff 84 yards to tie the score 27-27 with 4:51 left to play, he knew what he had to do.

“I was saying in my head that I have to run this one (ensuing kickoff) back,” said Furey. “I was really glad I got the ball.”

In fact, sophomore Luke Ouellette received the kickoff, but he handed it to Furey on a reverse. He found a seam, burst through it, then deked kicker Mike MacArthur and continued for an 85-yard TD return that produced the final points in a wild 34-27 victory over the upset-minded hosts.

“We haven’t run that (reverse) play in a couple of weeks, but we called it on that one and it worked perfectly,” said Timberlane coach Kevin Fitzgerald. “We needed it.”
After Furey’s kickoff return, Winnacunnet (1-7) had time for a final drive and moved the ball from its own 35 all the way to the Timberlane 5-yard line. But the Owls (6-2) stiffened and recorded their second clutch defensive stop of the night to preserve the victory.

“It seemed like whoever was the last one with the ball would win,” said Fitzgerald. “We knew they were a much improved team and would give us trouble.

“We made some mistakes and have to get better in every phase, but a win is a win, and it’s not easy winning on the road in this league. I liked the way our kids came back when we were behind (20-13 early in the third quarter).”

The win, tough as it was, lifted the Owls to 5-1 in Division 2 and, thanks to Keene’s 18-14 upset of Bishop Guertin last night, in a tie with Guertin in the standings, a half game behind Exeter (6-1). The Owls upset Exeter last week.

Furey finished the night with 179 rushing yards on 27 carries, giving him 1,282 yards for the year. He scored three touchdowns, the first two coming on 1-yard dives in the first half, which ended in a 13-13 tie.

After Knowles (six catches, 156 yards) hauled in his third scoring strike to stake Winnacunnet to its 20-13 third-quarter lead, the Owls struck back with two scoring passes to regain the lead.

The first came on a beautiful play-action fake to Furey followed by a 12-yard Erik Hatton to CJ Dupuis pass on a fourth down. The second came on a nifty 33-yard catch and run by Matt Caiazzo.

That final TD throw was followed by Knowles’ kickoff return that in turn set the stage for Furey’s return.

Hatton had a nice night, completing 5 of 7 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, noseguard Brian Nicoll had a strong game in the middle.