Photo/CODY TOMER MONROE CENTRAL'S Dillon Lincoln runs the ball during Saturday's game at Union Local. The Seminoles scored late to pull out a victory.

MORRISTOWN — Despite having to wait an extra day for football due to lightning, fans who gathered in Morristown on Saturday evening were treated to a great show that saved the fireworks for last.

After Union Local overcame a 20-6 deficit late in the third to take the lead with 4:18 left in the game, Monroe Central’s offense kept its composure.

With time winding down and the Seminoles facing a fourth down, Monroe Central quarterback Malachi Rose-Burton launched a 44-yard dime to playmaker Auston Hogue, who went up and grabbed it at the 1-yard line.

A QB sneak by Rose-Burton two plays later with 7 seconds showing on the clock proved to be the game-winner as the Seminoles claimed the season opener in thrilling fashion, 26-22.

“We had an all-go and we knew they were running a lot of one high safety man coverage, so it was basically just pick the matchup, read away from the safety and throw it backside,” Monroe coach Josh Ischy said. “It broke down a little bit, Malachi scrambled and threw a jump ball to one of our best receivers on the field and players go make plays and he did.

“Malachi threw a great pass, a catchable ball and Auston made a great adjustment and came down with it. There was no coaching there, it was just two players making big time plays.”

Leading up to the game-winning drive, the Jets delivered several big-time plays themselves.

After falling behind 20-6 with 1:22 left in the third, Caleb McWhorter took the ensuing kickoff 77 yards down to the 3-yard line, where tailback Jaksan Price rumbled in for the touchdown.

Following a Seminoles’ punt later in the fourth, McWhorter struck again.

This time, on the first play from scrimmage as quarterback Carter Blake lofted a pass right into the hands of McWhorter who raced 78 yards to the endzone for the go-ahead score with 4:18 remaining to give the Jets a 22-20 edge.

“That was a great call by our offensive coordinator,” Jets coach Bernie Thompson said. “It was a great ball by Carter. He is a great player. That was the best pass he made all night and he got it to one of our speedsters. It was a great, timely play when we needed one and they came through.

“We have playmakers and they are great kids. They wanted to win so bad and we just have to do a better job as coaches of getting them the ball. We’ll go back, watch film and critique ourselves as offensive coaches.”

The Seminoles delivered in the clutch in the first half, as well. After taking a 6-0 lead midway through the second quarter on a Rose-Burton QB sneak, a Cole McCammon interception gave Monroe Central outstanding field position at the Jets’ 10-yard line with two minutes to go in the half.

The Union Local defense stepped up and made several stops but on fourth-and-six, Rose-Burton flipped a shovel pass to Alex Kilburn, who darted up the middle of the field and into the end zone for six with only 4 seconds remaining in the half to give his squad the momentum at the break.

“That was a huge play,” Ischy said. “That’s something we have repped out the last week or so, precisely for a moment like that. Malachi had a great read and flipped it to Alex and he had a nice hole to run through.”

The late score could have been a back-breaker for the Jets but Thompson and his staff knew they were capable of a comeback.

“The message at halftime was everything we were doing we were doing OK,” Thompson said.“We were hurting ourselves. We just needed a few adjustments, we had some stupid penalties and missed a few blocks. It was on us. I felt comfortable going in that we can get the ball and move it and it showed in the second half. We were able to make some plays and get some guys the ball.”

The Jets did just that as Hayden McCrate took a handoff and dashed 40 yards down the sideline to get his team on the scoreboard.

Monroe Central extended its lead on the next possession as Hogue made highlight real grabs of 23 and 32 yards and Michael Bunning supplied an impressive snag on third-and-11 to get the ball to the 1.

Rose-Burton blasted through the line for the touchdown on the next play to go up 20-6 with 1:22 left in the third before the fourth quarter drama unfolded.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my guys,” Ischy said. “They were wearing us down in the third. It was evident. They were running fresh bodies on and made us look even more tired. These guys dug down deep and refused to lose, which is one of our mantras. One of our goals this year is to have that mamba mentality and they showcased it there at the end.

“Hats off to Union Local for refusing to lose, also. They made plays at moments when they had to just to stay in it, take the lead and almost won the game. They are a well-coached team and they got some good players so this is a big win for us.”

Rose-Burton threw for 177 yards with Hogue hauling in three passes for 99 yards.

The Jets were led by Blake who finished 6-for-16 with 141 yards, while McWhorter caught four passes for 113 yards.

Price paced the rushing attack with 121 yards on 18 carries.

“We understand we’re not last year,” Thompson said. “We are at a place where we have to compete every week and walk away with wins and this is why it hurts, because we felt we were the better team and all credit to Josh Ischy. He is a great man and does a phenomenal job with those guys. He had a great coaching display (Saturday).

“We just felt prepared and ready to go and we just left a few plays out there that came back to bite us but this is what we pride ourselves on — leading through adversity. I saw a lot of bright spots and as a leader, I have to continue to push and be positive and come back with a great game plan against Buckeye Local.

Boxscore:

Monroe Central 26, Union Local 22

Monroe Central 0 12 8 6 — 26

Union Local 0 0 14 8 — 22

M — Rose-Burton 1 run (run failed), 6:13

M — Kilburn 8 pass from Rose-Burton (run failed), :4

U — McCrate 40 run (kick failed), 5:30

M — Rose-Burton 1 run (Bunning from Rose-Burton), 1:22

U — Price 3 run (Price run), :24

U — McWhorter 78 pass from Blake (McCrate run), 4:18

M — Rose-Burton 1 run (Pass failed), :7

Rushing: Monroe Central 36-76-3td (Kilburn 22-48, Rose-Burton 10-32-3td, Lincoln 3-5, Bunning 1-(-9); Union Local (25-173-2td) Price 18-121-td, McCrate 6-53-td, Blake 1-(-1)).

Passing: Monroe Central 12-28-177-td (all by Rose-Burton); Union Local 6-16-141-td-x (all by Blake).

Receiving: Monroe Central 12-177-td (Kilburn 3-8-td, Bunning 6-46, Hogue 3-99); Union Local 6-141-td (Loase 2-28, McWhorter 4-113).

First Downs: Monroe Central 15; Union Local 13

Penalties-Yards: Monroe Central 6-30; Union Local 9-85

Fumbles-Lost: Monroe Central 1-0; Union Local 1-0.