Getting a victory always makes everyone feel good, but getting a double overtime victory makes everyone feel they have accomplished something really special.
 
Playing on the Friday before our long fall weekend break is always tricky because everyone is tired and looking forward to some time off.  Focus is the key and although we had gaps in our focus early, which caused some turnovers, the team gathered themselves and rallied to play their best football at the end of the game.

Our defense controlled the first and most of the second quarter, keeping it scoreless, even though Groton had some excellent scoring opportunities.  Late in the second quarter, Groton finally broke through to score the first points of the game, but a muffed snap on the PAT try kept their lead to 6-0 at halftime.
The MX offense started to generate some consistent drives in the third quarter, tying the score 6-6, when quarterback Cole Cleary '20 connected on a 56 yard scoring pass to wide receiver Cedrick Paradis '20.  Liam Connor's PAT kick gave MX the lead 7-6. The MX defense line of Michael Conde '20, Wes Capitani '20, Alek Kebabjian '20, and Julian Farr '20 played exceptionally well, and gave the MX offense the ball in excellent field position early in the fourth quarter. Senior captain Kabelo Tsotetsi '19 took it from there scoring on a 2 yard run. Connor's kick increased the MX lead to 14-6 (Kabelo ended the game with 24 carries for 142 yards). Groton's offense continued to press for a score, but MX's cornerback Cole Nye '20 had an interception to stop their drive. Groton finally broke through, on a mistake in the MX secondary, to tie the score with a TD and 2 point pass play 14-14.  The MX offense had 31 seconds left, and almost pulled out the win in regulation.  Nye returned the kickoff to the 50 yard line, Tsotetsi took a pass from Cleary to the 35 and with 4 seconds left Cleary threw a Hail Mary to tight end Sahnai Swain-Price '21 that was hauled in at the 1 yard line as time ran out. 

ISL rules allow for 2 overtime periods to break a tie, with both teams getting the ball at the 10 yard line for 4 downs and having to go for a 2 point conversion each TD scored.  

MX won the overtime coin toss and chose to go on defense first.  Groton scored but the 2 point conversion was no good.  MX then matched the score on a 2 yard plunge by Tsotetsi but their 2 point try also failed for a 20-20 tie.  MX had to go right back on offense, where Cleary connected with Paradis for the TD and then again for the 2 point conversion to take a 28-20 lead.  Groton would score again to cut the lead to 28-26 but the MX defensive front and our linebacker corps of Axel Romell '21, Sahnai Swain-Price '21, Liam Alley '21, and Max Bensley '21 would hold solid to stop the run and claim the victory 28-26. 

I would be remiss if I did not commend the offensive line for their consistent work all afternoon on both run and pass plays - Peter Sleeper '22, Wes Capitani '20, Aaron Peroni '20, Alex Flynn '19, and Nick DeBruin '22.  Also congratulations go out to Alek Kebabjian '20, who lead all other defenders with 23 tackles and 5 tackles for losses.

Our next game will be this coming Saturday at home with a 2:30 start for Parent's Weekend against Brooks.