Post by Gene on Apr 15, 2007 16:56:58 GMT -5
Express wins a thriller 
Reading’s Carmelo Ocasio hauls in a TD pass with 4.9 seconds left, capping a wild game against Canton.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Berks County, PA - Carmelo Ocasio never had a doubt.
His disputed touchdown catch in the final five seconds Saturday night at the Sovereign Center provided the Reading Express with the decisive points in a wild 63-56 victory over the defending league champion Canton Legends.
Ocasio’s 30-yard touchdown grab from Tom Stetzer off the boards in the back of the end zone was the third touchdown in the final minute of the American Indoor Football Association game. Canton rallied from 15 points down in the final minute to tie it only to see Ocasio haul in his fourth TD pass of the game with 4.9 seconds left.
Canton defensive back JoJo Polk protested that Ocasio didn’t catch the ball. But Ocasio, who had nine catches for 110 yards, said he pinned the ball against the wall without letting it hit the artificial turf.
“The ball never touched the ground, that’s a legal play,” Ocasio said. “The referee was on top of it. He did a great job.”
It was the final unbelievable play in a game that featured 544 yards of offense and 16 touchdowns.
The Express (8-1) also got highlight-reel touchdowns on a dazzling 23-yard run by Mores Manoyrine midway through the third quarter and a spectacular 17-yard touchdown reception in which Shawn Foxworth crashed hard into the boards with seven seconds left in the half to help Reading take a 32-27 halftime lead.
“When you get an opportunity to make a play, you’ve got to make the play,” said Foxworth, who watched the second half on crutches because of a knee injury. “I got bent back kind of funny. My whole leg was numb for a minute. I thought it was broke.”
Nearly every one in the crowd of 3,936 went numb when the Legends (5-3) rallied from a 15-point deficit with two touchdowns and a rouge in the final minute to tie it 56-56 with 10.6 seconds left.
On the first play after the one-minute warning, Canton quarterback Kevin Mason threw a 29-yard TD pass to Randall Lane. John McClain kicked the extra point, then added a rouge, to pull Canton within seven.
On the Express’ next play, Stetzer hit Ian Cooper across the middle but Cooper dropped the ball. Canton recovered what was ruled a fumble at the Express 24 after Reading argued Cooper never had possession.
Mason, who completed 22-of-36 for 297 yards and six touchdowns, threw to Tim Smith for 17 yards. After a penalty and incomplete pass, Mason threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Lee and McClain’s PAT tied it.
When McClain kicked the ball into the seats going for a go-ahead rouge, the Express got the ball its own 20 with time for one shot at the end zone.
Stetzer lofted a deep pass to Ocasio who had a step on Polk, and Ocasio made the reception against the wall. Reading knocked down Mason’s 48-yard Hail Mary heave on the final play to avenge last year’s Northern Conference championship game loss.
“We just made it happen when we needed it,” said Stetzer, who completed 23-of-39 pass for 228 yards and seven touchdowns. “We wanted this one real bad.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Reading’s Carmelo Ocasio hauls in a TD pass with 4.9 seconds left, capping a wild game against Canton.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Berks County, PA - Carmelo Ocasio never had a doubt.
His disputed touchdown catch in the final five seconds Saturday night at the Sovereign Center provided the Reading Express with the decisive points in a wild 63-56 victory over the defending league champion Canton Legends.
Ocasio’s 30-yard touchdown grab from Tom Stetzer off the boards in the back of the end zone was the third touchdown in the final minute of the American Indoor Football Association game. Canton rallied from 15 points down in the final minute to tie it only to see Ocasio haul in his fourth TD pass of the game with 4.9 seconds left.
Canton defensive back JoJo Polk protested that Ocasio didn’t catch the ball. But Ocasio, who had nine catches for 110 yards, said he pinned the ball against the wall without letting it hit the artificial turf.
“The ball never touched the ground, that’s a legal play,” Ocasio said. “The referee was on top of it. He did a great job.”
It was the final unbelievable play in a game that featured 544 yards of offense and 16 touchdowns.
The Express (8-1) also got highlight-reel touchdowns on a dazzling 23-yard run by Mores Manoyrine midway through the third quarter and a spectacular 17-yard touchdown reception in which Shawn Foxworth crashed hard into the boards with seven seconds left in the half to help Reading take a 32-27 halftime lead.
“When you get an opportunity to make a play, you’ve got to make the play,” said Foxworth, who watched the second half on crutches because of a knee injury. “I got bent back kind of funny. My whole leg was numb for a minute. I thought it was broke.”
Nearly every one in the crowd of 3,936 went numb when the Legends (5-3) rallied from a 15-point deficit with two touchdowns and a rouge in the final minute to tie it 56-56 with 10.6 seconds left.
On the first play after the one-minute warning, Canton quarterback Kevin Mason threw a 29-yard TD pass to Randall Lane. John McClain kicked the extra point, then added a rouge, to pull Canton within seven.
On the Express’ next play, Stetzer hit Ian Cooper across the middle but Cooper dropped the ball. Canton recovered what was ruled a fumble at the Express 24 after Reading argued Cooper never had possession.
Mason, who completed 22-of-36 for 297 yards and six touchdowns, threw to Tim Smith for 17 yards. After a penalty and incomplete pass, Mason threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Maurice Lee and McClain’s PAT tied it.
When McClain kicked the ball into the seats going for a go-ahead rouge, the Express got the ball its own 20 with time for one shot at the end zone.
Stetzer lofted a deep pass to Ocasio who had a step on Polk, and Ocasio made the reception against the wall. Reading knocked down Mason’s 48-yard Hail Mary heave on the final play to avenge last year’s Northern Conference championship game loss.
“We just made it happen when we needed it,” said Stetzer, who completed 23-of-39 pass for 228 yards and seven touchdowns. “We wanted this one real bad.”
•Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.