By Liam O’Brien
Managing Editor of Sports
When facing Brookline, one can almost guarantee that senior captain Jamyre Soberanis will contribute a superb showing to the Lions’ efforts.
After racking up four touchdowns in South’s win over the Warriors in 2014, the running back broke out against Brookline yet again Saturday afternoon, racking up over 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns while leading the Lions to a 29-20 victory over their border rivals in the home opener at Joe Winkler Field.
South improves its record to 2-0 on the season with the victory, overcoming two separate seven-point deficits to garner the win. Junior quarterback Austin Burton connected with senior captain and wide receiver Anthony DeNitto on a 62-yard touchdown strike in the third quarter to provide the team with a 15-14 lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.
Warriors running back Max Bochman rushed for three touchdowns on the afternoon compiling 122 yards in the first half alone. Brookline was unable to activate its passing game, however, as quarterback Marquis Miller struggled to connect with his receivers.
Brookline controlled the tempo for much of the first quarter, marching down the field to set themselves up with first-and-goal. Despite being beaten up by the Warriors rushing attack throughout the drive, the Lions held tough, forcing a fourth-and-goal from the NS eight-yard line.
Miller rolled left and spotted a target open in the end zone, but the receiver dropped the potential touchdown, forcing a turnover on downs with 1:25 left in the opening quarter.
After a turnover on downs by South, Brookline put the first points on the board with 5:01 remaining in the second quarter, as Bochman broke a 35-yard touchdown run, lunging across the pylon for the touchdown.
The Lions responded with a Soberanis-heavy possession that concluded with a four-yard touchdown run by senior full back Chris Walden, tying the game up at seven heading into halftime.
A lengthy drive ending with a seven-yard rushing touchdown by Bochman provided the Warriors with a 14-7 advantage with 4:22 left in the third quarter. The Lions offense responded on the ensuing possession with Burton finding DeNitto down the sideline on a deep ball, as the versatile athlete cut back towards the middle of the field and sprinted to the end zone for a 62-yard score.
Burton connected with DeNitto again on the go-ahead two-point conversion, giving the Lions the 15-14 lead.
After a three-and-out by the Warriors and a punt return by DeNitto that set up the Lions offense on the Brookline 29-yard line, Soberanis quickly capitalized on the opportunity to increase the advantage, rushing the full 29 yards to the end zone to put the Lions up 22-14 with 1:35 remaining in the third quarter.
Near the end of the final quarter, South looked to end the Warriors hopes of a comeback on a 4th-and-3, but a quarterback draw by Burton was stuffed short of the first-down marker.
Brookline proceeded to march down the field and score on a critical 4th-and-1 from the NS three-yard line, as Bochman rushed in for the touchdown. Miller’s pass on the game-deciding two-point conversion was awry, handing the Lions possession of the football with 38 seconds left and a 22-20 advantage after an onside kick attempt by the Warriors went out of bounds.
On third down from the Brookline 43-yard line and the game hanging in the balance, Soberanis exploded off of the line of scrimmage and galloped for the clinching touchdown run, giving the Lions a 29-20 advantage with just 15 seconds left in the contest.
South will return to action next Friday night at Boston Latin and looks to improve to 3-0.
