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It’s essentially the most electrifying ending to any Shore Convention soccer recreation this season.
Division rivals Brick Memorial and Toms River North have been tied at 21 in a prime 10 matchup final week when Mustangs senior quarterback Jason Lajara put up a 33-yard cross to senior extensive receiver Nyzier Matthews with the clock operating right down to single digits.
The star receiver hauled it in over two defenders for the game-winning landing with solely six seconds remaining in regulation for a hard-fought, 28-21 victory over the defending Class A South champions in a thriller at Gernerd Area.
Shore Sports activities Insider spoke to Mustangs head coach Walt Currie, offensive coordinator James Mahoney, Lajara and Matthews about how they pulled it off to finish Toms River North’s 40-game profitable streak in opposition to public colleges.
“The decision was a formation and a movement we thought we may use to get Naz singled up, which labored,” Currie stated. “Jay put the ball proper as much as give Naz an opportunity, and he went up and high-pointed it and made the play.”
Mahoney, who breaks the play down within the video under, was looking for a option to get Matthews, one of many state’s prime receivers, remoted in one-on-one protection.
“Toms River North is so good, they usually have children and coaches who make the whole lot arduous,” Mahoney stated.
The Mustangs lined up with three receivers to the fitting after which motioned operating again Nazeer Whittaker throughout the formation towards that facet to go away Matthews as the one receiver on the left facet. Lajara had picked up on one thing earlier within the recreation and alerted the coaches.
“I advised Mahoney that at any time when we have been operating unfold and motioning the operating again to the other facet, the protection was shifting over,” Lajara stated. “After that final timeout, I stated, ‘That is the time.’ Mahoney places a variety of belief in me.”
The objective of the movement was to affect the protection simply sufficient to maneuver him to the hash mark on the other facet of the sector from Matthews. That approach it will be too arduous for the protection to get better to offer assist excessive to the defender overlaying Matthews one on one.
“I wasn’t shocked concerning the playcall,” Matthews stated. “I knew the coach trusted me and my skill to catch the ball and win the sport.”
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If the protection ran to right away double Matthews, Lajara would then attempt to go to both Whittaker, tight finish Joe Livio, extensive receiver Ricky Dillon or wideout Rocco Iacullo on the opposite facet of the sector for sufficient of a acquire to a minimum of try a game-winning subject objective.
The Mustangs had been working at warp pace after getting the ball again with just one:24 left at their very own 24-yard line and driving to the Toms River North 33-yard line.
In addition they have been additionally with out two of their prime receiving choices. Star tight finish/linebacker Trey Tallmadge has been out with an damage since a loss to Rumson-Truthful Haven, and one other proficient receiver, junior Shawn Fowler, was out of the sport after struggling a hamstring damage within the first half whereas enjoying protection.
The movement by Whittaker made the protection take a pair steps towards the other hash mark earlier than the snap.
“As soon as I noticed that I used to be like, ‘We’re gonna take our shot,’” Mahoney stated.
The offensive line held up in opposition to Toms River North’s three-man rush. Lajara rapidly appeared proper to attempt to freeze the protection after which got here again left and put it up for Matthews within the nook of the tip zone. At first, he feared he made an important error.
“The protection didn’t shift as a lot as I believed he would,” Lajara stated. “Naz had leverage exterior, and it was a bit underthrown. Truthfully from my angle I used to be scared as a result of I believed I threw it a bit inside, however Naz went up and made a play.”
There additionally was the issue of Matthews simply being a terrific athlete and profitable a contested catch with a number of Toms River North defenders proper there.
“My mindset going right into a one on one is that I simply actually belief in my skill each time that I’m going to get the ball,” Matthews stated. “I don’t assume there’s lots of people that may cease me. I wasn’t frightened about double groups. I’m sort of used to it by now.”
The Brick Memorial sideline erupted as Matthews got here down with a career-high third landing catch within the recreation. It polished off a monster 9-catch, 169-yard night time for the senior.
“It felt like 10 minutes handed earlier than the referee put his fingers up,” Mahoney stated. “You don’t get that sort of euphoric second doing something however teaching soccer.”
“That was positively some adrenaline ultimately,” Lajara stated.
A returning SSI first-team All-Shore selection, Matthews now has 17 catches for 361 yards and 5 touchdowns in 4 video games. These totals are particularly spectacular as a result of Tallmadge needed to play quarterback for the primary two video games. Lajara, a two-year starter, was out with an sickness.
“He’s one of the best extensive receiver I’ve coached in 34 years,” Currie stated.
It took the whole lot the Mustangs needed to beat the Mariners (1-3), who’re the three-time defending Group 5 champions.
“I feel they’re rather a lot higher staff than their document says,” Lajara stated. “They’re at all times enjoying arduous groups, non-public colleges. It’s Toms River North. They’re at all times growing guys, and it’s at all times a very good recreation in opposition to them.”
The win implies that Brick Memorial, ranked No. 4 in the Shore Sports Insider Top 12, can clinch no worse than a tie for the Class A South title on Friday when it faces No. 10 Donovan Catholic (1-3).
“It’s A South, so there’s arduous video games each week,” Matthews stated. “Now we have one other robust recreation in opposition to Donovan. Now we have to maintain executing and get that dub.”
Scott Stump is the soccer editor and a reporter for Shore Sports activities Insider. He first began overlaying Shore Convention soccer in 1999 and has coated basketball, baseball and seemingly each different Shore Convention sport sooner or later.
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