GEORGETOWN — Eleven plays, 60 yards, 6:45 off the clock.
Those were the impressive numbers from Manchester Essex's game-winning third-quarter drive yesterday morning at Georgetown High.
In the 50th game of the Thanksgiving rivalry, the Hornets held off a valiant effort by upset-minded Georgetown, 22-14, to take a 27-23 series lead.
This was supposed to be a major mismatch, but there was no quit in Georgetown, which finished with its worst record since 1990.
After an M-E fumble on its own 20, Georgetown took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 5-yard pass from Chris Esposito to Max Mangano and tied it up at 14 on the last play of the first half.
Using a little razzle-dazzle, Tyran Harrigan, a former quarterback found Esposito for a 16-yard scoring strike on the halfback option.
Close, but no cigar for the rebuilding Royals, who were coming off back-to-back 8-2 seasons.
The Hornets received the opening kickoff and marched into Royals territory before Carr took a quarterback draw 11 yards for the winning touchdown.
"Defensively this year, it's a group of guys that have a lot of desire to be successful," said Royals head coach Matt Bouchard.
Manchester 22, Georgetown 14
Manchester (9-2):0âÇ14âÇ8âÇ0 — 22
Georgetown (1-9):0âÇ14âÇ0âÇ0 — 14
First Quarter
G — Max Mangano 5 pass from Chris Esposito (Tyler Wade kick)
Second Quarter
ME — Brian Ciccone 3 run (kick failed)
ME — Ciccone 12 pass from Alex Carr (Ben Kekeisen rush)
G — Esposito 16 pass from Tyran Harrigan (Wade kick)
Third Quarter
ME — Carr 11 run (Kekeisen rush)
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: ME (34-160) — Alex Carr 11-56, Ben Kekeisen 10-36, Brian Ciccone 8-34, Jack Bishop 5-34; Georgetown (29-141) — Chris Esposito 24-134, Max Mangano 2-14, Mike Wootan 1-0, Tyran Harrigan 2-(-7)
PASSING: ME — Carr 7-10-1, 125 yards; Georgetown — Esposito 4-12-2, 27 yards; Harrigan 2-2-0, 37 yards
RECEIVING: ME — Jim Finn 2-78, Bishop 2-19, Ciccone 1-12, Doug Kenerson 1-9, Jake Brown 1-7; G — Mangano 2-26, Harrigan 3-22, Esposito 1-16
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