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By Tim Rosenthal, HockomockSports.com Staff Writer
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – With its backs against the walls, the Oliver Ames football team came up big when it mattered the most.
After trailing Taunton 21-6 through the end of three quarters, junior quarterback Nick Cidado (14-of-28, 174 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) sparked his team on the team’s two fourth quarter drives that led to a 22-21 come from behind victory Saturday afternoon at Muscato Stadium.
The fourth quarter rally was a testament to the team’s motivation.
“It was awesome,” Cidado said about Saturday’s victory. “We made some halftime adjustments and we made some big plays in that fourth quarter.”
Click here for a full photo gallery of Taunton vs. Oliver Ames.
By Tim Rosenthal, HockomockSports.com Staff Writer
NORTH EASTON, Mass. – With its backs against the walls, the Oliver Ames football team came up big when it mattered the most.
After trailing Taunton 21-6 through the end of three quarters, junior quarterback Nick Cidado (14-of-28, 174 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) sparked his team on the team’s two fourth quarter drives that led to a 22-21 come from behind victory Saturday afternoon at Muscato Stadium.
The fourth quarter rally was a testament to the team’s motivation.
“It was awesome,” Cidado said about Saturday’s victory. “We made some halftime adjustments and we made some big plays in that fourth quarter.”
Click here for a full photo gallery of Taunton vs. Oliver Ames.
With Cidado missing his only extra point after a first quarter touchdown pass to senior St. Claire Ryan – a 46-yard screen pass – head coach Jim Artz had some decisions to make late in the fourth quarter after touchdowns by Joey Tepper (from 1 yard) and Greg Cummings (a 36-yard reception).
Both times, Artz decided to go for two; and both attempts were successful.
The first attempt – after Tepper’s touchdown – pulled OA within seven after Cidado connected with Cummings (7 receptions, 81 yards) with 8:38 left in the final period. After an OA defensive stand and Cummings’ touchdown, the Tigers added another two points when Matt Berska took the handoff to the back of the end zone; pulling ahead for good with 2:35 remaining.
Both times, Artz decided to go for two; and both attempts were successful.
The first attempt – after Tepper’s touchdown – pulled OA within seven after Cidado connected with Cummings (7 receptions, 81 yards) with 8:38 left in the final period. After an OA defensive stand and Cummings’ touchdown, the Tigers added another two points when Matt Berska took the handoff to the back of the end zone; pulling ahead for good with 2:35 remaining.
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Neither conversion was easy for Artz to call, particularly the second attempt, but in the end he credited his team for converting.
“I wasn’t sold on it, but the kids took it as a challenge and said ‘lets win it right now’,”” Artz said about the two-point attempts. “I go how they go. If they feel confident, and if they feel that they are going to get it, I’m going to read them and get a pulse on it, and we did. So we went for it and sure enough we pounded it in.”
Click here for a full photo gallery of Taunton vs. Oliver Ames.
Throughout the first half, Taunton was able to drive on the OA defense through its Wing-T. The trio of Jamal Williams (17 carries, 94 yards), Gerald Cortijo (19 carries, 129 yards, 1 punt return touchdown from 43 yards) and Domingo Jenkins (10 carries, 68 yards) sparked the Tiger rushing attack and special teams forcing OA to play catch up football for much of the contest.
But it was the other Tigers who made the second half adjustments.
“We got a little complacent after getting a two-touchdown lead going up against a very good football team,” said Taunton coach Cris Gredding.
“We told our team at the break that [OA] isn’t going to quit. They came up firing on all cylinders, and I don’t think they made a single mistake [in the second half]. They are a very well coached team and a very disciplined team, so our hats go off to them. They did a great job today.”
Having seen the Wing-T for the majority of the first 22 minutes, the OA defense also came up in the clutch and gave its offense a chance to win the game, including an interception by Jake Fitzgerald in the third quarter.
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Click here for a full photo gallery of Taunton vs. Oliver Ames.
Appropriately enough, the OA defense sealed the victory after forcing a fumble (recovered by Sean Kelly) with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
“Coach talked to us at halftime to step it up on defense,” said Cidado, who threw both of his interceptions in the first half. “Offensively, he told us to take care of the ball and we did a better job of doing that in the second half and defensively we made some big plays.”
“It was awesome from all aspects,” Cidado added about the comeback. “We played well in the second half, made those adjustments and those junior corners [Cameron Williamson and Jake Fitzgerald] came up with the big second half turnovers.”
OA, now 5-1, travels Foxboro for an important Davenport Division contest – its first of the season – at Ahern Field Friday night.
At 1-5, Taunton will host a struggling North Attleboro squad, which has lost three straight contests, Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
Click here for a full photo gallery of Taunton vs. Oliver Ames.
Appropriately enough, the OA defense sealed the victory after forcing a fumble (recovered by Sean Kelly) with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
“Coach talked to us at halftime to step it up on defense,” said Cidado, who threw both of his interceptions in the first half. “Offensively, he told us to take care of the ball and we did a better job of doing that in the second half and defensively we made some big plays.”
“It was awesome from all aspects,” Cidado added about the comeback. “We played well in the second half, made those adjustments and those junior corners [Cameron Williamson and Jake Fitzgerald] came up with the big second half turnovers.”
OA, now 5-1, travels Foxboro for an important Davenport Division contest – its first of the season – at Ahern Field Friday night.
At 1-5, Taunton will host a struggling North Attleboro squad, which has lost three straight contests, Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
Click here for a full photo gallery of Taunton vs. Oliver Ames.
