MEDFORD – They trailed by six.
Fourth down-and-16 at their own 26-yard-line. Fourth quarter – game just about on the line.
Medford football head coach John Curley gave senior quarterback Justin Marino a signal only the two of them knew as the team set up for a rugby-style punt.
Marino tucked for a 19-yard gain, extending a gusty, go-ahead drive that embodied much of a tough-it-out performance the Mustangs (4-3) used Thursday night for a 20-18 win over Lynn English (5-2) in Greater Boston League play.
A 23-yard touchdown connection from Marino to Darius Weekes (six catches, 96 yards) in the back of the end zone five plays later ultimately gave Medford the lead several plays later, pairing with Prince Exavier’s forced fumble on the ensuing drive to cap off a complete turnaround from a 12-0 deficit at halftime.
Marino tossed 135 of his 155 yards in the second half, passing for two touchdowns and running in a third within a 113-yard rushing performance. None were bigger than what came on that fourth down, though.
“Not many people would have done that, but I trust him so much,” Curley said. “(The win) means a lot to the program, it means a lot to the kids.”
A barrage of penalties nixed any momentum Medford could muster in the first half, while Bulldogs junior Xavier Beauchamp took advantage of short fields the defense produced with two of his three touchdown runs. Two-point conversion attempts failed on both, but it didn’t seem to matter in a woeful Medford start.
The second half was a much different story, as Marino started it 7-for-7 with three tosses of at least 20 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Dieurestil to knot the score at 12-12 late in the third quarter. Before that, he set up a 3-yard keeper touchdown rush with a 30-yard heave to Dieurestil early in the frame.
Suddenly, the team was back in it.
“At halftime, (Curley) looks at us in the eyes, screams at us,” Marino said. “We just really buy into him, honestly. The whole coaching staff really knows us as well and knows that if we come out and battle every play, we’re going to have something special.”
“Especially when you have a coaching staff that has an answer to everything that you do,” Exavier added. “It’s a great coaching staff.”
Lynn English ended the frame by driving down the field, and again took a lead on the first play of the fourth quarter on Beauchamp’s 15-yard touchdown run.
But on fourth-and-long on the ensuing possession, Marino delivered that heroic run to extend the drive. A couple of personal fouls from the Bulldogs gave Medford more life, leading to the touchdown reception for the lead with just under eight minutes left.
Lynn English was driving in response, but Exavier punched a fumble loose to Demi Georges to ultimately seal the win with under four minutes left.
If that didn’t seal it, Marino’s 49-yard carry did.
“I had to come through for my team,” Exavier said. “I didn’t really have an amazing, amazing game, so I had to show up. Whenever my team needs me, I’ve got to do my best.”
