Sports

The Wildcats Football End Another Season in Heartbreak

Arundel High lost 39-28 to Broadneck after being outscored 22-0 in the fourth quarter. Broadneck earned a berth into the state semifinal.

On his Facebook page late Friday night, Arundel High quarterback Nick Rosati did his best to capture both pain and pride."I love my boys till death, always and forever brothers," he wrote. "I will never have a family like this…you guys made me everything I am. I am honored to say I played alongside every one of you."  

Two hours earlier, the senior stood on the turf at Carroll Field and sobbed, knowing that he had played his final game as a Wildcat. The ultimate goal of winning a state football title was, for the second year in a row, stifled in heartbreaking fashion, as Broadneck staged a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat Arundel 39-28 for a berth into the Class 4A state semifinals.

 After trailing 21-3 midway through the first half, Broadneck outscored Arundel 36-7 the rest of the way, putting up 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.  The cruelty of the loss was made worse when placed in the context of last year's 58-55 overtime playoff loss to Old Mill, and the fact that Arundel beat Broadneck 10-6 during the regular season.

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 This was the year that Arundel was supposed to take things a step further by winning a regional title and playing for state supremacy. But it was not to be."I remember last season's 58-55 and I'll remember this season's 39-28," Arundel Head Coach Chuck Markiewicz said.

 "It is what it is. You work your…ass off to get to this night, and when it doesn't come through, it's painful. This is 12 months of work, so it's not easy."  Arundel scored first when quarterback Nick Rosati connected with Tyler Washington on a 28-yard score on 3rd and 28. The Wildcats appeared on the verge of scoring again, but wideout Elonte Allen fumbled the ball on the 10-yard line, giving possession back to Broadneck.

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Broadneck then got on the board with a 36-yard field goal in the closing seconds of the first quarter.Arundel went up 14-3 after Rosati hit Washington on a long pass to the 2-yard line, followed by Joe Blackwell lunging over the goal line for the score. Blackwell would make it 21-3 moments later when he fought off several defenders for a well-earned touchdown from six yards out.

But as the half ran down, Arundel began to show some chinks in its armor. A complete defensive breakdown left Bruins wideout Jamie Ott wide open for a touchdown catch from quarterback James Mullis.  Moments later, the Wildcats had a chance to extend their lead but Broadneck's Brian Hanratty picked off a Rosati pass near the end zone.

In the second half, it appeared as if Broadneck would try to chip its way back into the game by establishing a running game and eating up a lot of clock."We just wanted to stick with our game plan, running the ball and keeping the ball out of their hands and see what we could do," Broadneck Head Coach Jeff Herrick said. But after chewing off five minutes during one sustained drive, Mullis look long and connected on a 59-yard score to Trae Bys, who was left wide open.

Arundel appeared to regain control late in the third quarter when Rosati threw a 17-yard touchdown pass over the middle and through traffic to Hunter Cetrone, making it 28-17.As the third quarter wound down, Broadneck attempted a fake punt but was called for a false start.

 The Bruins kicked the ball away on the next play, but Arundel's Michael Coombs fumbled and Broadneck recovered at the 16-yard line. Mullis later followed his right tackle into the end zone to cut Arundel's lead to 28-23. Broadneck converted on a two-point conversion after Mullis lofted a pass into the waiting arms of Darnell Solomon in the right corner of the end zone.

Down by three in the waning moments of the game, Broadneck made a strong defensive stand and forced Arundel to punt. A sustained drive put the Bruins at about midfield and Grant Harris appeared to move Broadneck within field goal range with a long run down the sideline.

 But the run was called back due to holding. Two plays later on 3rd and 13, Mullis threw a long pass off his back foot, connecting with Jamie Ott to the three-yard line. Mullis would then push his way in for the score, giving the Bruins their first lead of the game at 32-28.

Broadneck would seal the win moments later when Arundel wideout John White tipped pass from Rosati into the hands of Domenick Johnson, who ran it back 56 yards for a touchdown.

"I love these boys, they made me everything I am," Rosati said through tears after the game. "I will never forget these guys. We've done so much together and accomplished so much. I just wish we could have accomplished more."

Notes: Rosati went 22 for 35 for  295 yards and two touchdowns....Tyler Washington led all receivers with 5 catches for 117 yards....Hunter Cetrone had 8 catches for 76 yards.....Joseph Blackwell carried the ball for 76 yards on 19 carries....Broadneck's Grant Harris led all rushers with 125 yards on 19 carries.....Michael Pucci led Arundel with 11 tackles, while C.J. Brinkley and Tommy Chepurko had nine each....


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