With under three minutes to play and Gloucester nursing a one-score lead against an explosive St. Mary’s team on Friday night, Fishermen signal caller Cam Rodolosi called his own number for a QB sneak.
It was second down with about two yards to go at the time, and a first down would help the hosts inch that much closer to finishing things off and remaining unbeaten on the year.
Not only did Rodolosi move the chains, but he kept the wheels turning and emerged from the scrum, breaking loose for a lengthy touchdown scamper up the middle. The decisive and improbable score gave Gloucester the necessary breathing room to hold on for an impressive 26-14 victory, putting the cherry on top of a complete team performance at Newell Stadium.
“Holy heck,” Gloucester head coach Dan O’Connor said when asked about Rodolosi’s breakthrough run to paydirt. “He asked for the first down, wanted to get the first down, and saw an opening and got a little bit more. Incredible.”
Rodolosi’s touchdown burst — his second of the game — was emblematic of a special night for the Fishermen. St. Mary’s came in sporting an identical 2-0 record and had yet to allow a touchdown in two blowout wins to open the year.
Spartans’ quarterback Yaniel Belliard boasts a big arm and the ability to both spread the field and connect for game-changing deep balls. On this night, however, Gloucester was ready for the skilled opponent.
It held him to just 117 yards on an inefficient 8-for-24 clip, snagged two picks (courtesy of Jaylen Severino and Carlos Velazquez) and broke up numerous other pass attempts. The hosts’ line came to play, too, pressuring Belliard with regularity and forcing him to make quick decisions.
“In my seven years this is the biggest win for us. Hands down,” said an exuberant O’Connor. “It’s a testament to where these kids have come from, the work they’ve put in, and not just our seniors but the kids who have been here for years prior who have laid the foundation. These kids are continuing to run with it.”
It’s difficult to pinpoint one area where Gloucester thrived most. It was truly a complete and balanced showing in all three phases of the game — and they needed every single big play throughout the night to come out on top.
The first of those big plays came less than two minutes into action when Rodolosi shocked not only St. Mary’s, but everyone else in attendance by attempting a pass on his team’s very first play from scrimmage.
It worked, as the senior QB found Gavin Bren in the flat for a quick 23-yard gain. On the very next play, Joe Allen (game-high 89 rushing yards) found some space on the edge and took it 25 yards to the house for a 7-0 GHS lead.
Rodolosi attempted just three more passes the remainder of the evening.
When asked if the quick hitter pass play was predetermined heading into things, O’Connor deferred.
“You’ll have to ask (Brian Anderson) on that one,” he said with a laugh. “He’s the (offensive coordinator).”
After forcing a second St. Mary’s three-and-out in as many drives to begin the game, Gloucester found the end zone again for a 14-0 advantage. This time, they were forced to punt, but forced a fumble on the kickoff and Tanner Smith pounced on the ball for a Fishermen recovery.
That gave GHS the ball back in Spartans’ territory, and five plays later Rodolosi barreled across the goal line for a 3-yard TD on fourth down.
St. Mary’s cut the deficit in half early in the second quarter when Tyren Houen found a hole and went untouched for a 70-yard score up the middle. But Gloucester would respond, executing an eight-play, 84-yard drive that was capped off by a 25-yard sweep and score from Severino.
Velazquez then picked off a Belliard pass — and nearly took it all the way back for six — to close out the first half with his team ahead 20-7.
The third quarter wasn’t kind to either squad, with three punts, a fumble and an interception putting an end to drives for both teams.
St. Mary’s would give itself life late in the fourth as Belliard found Sam Phelps for a 50-yard passing TD with 3:27 to play, but Rodolosi’s aforementioned QB-sneak to paydirt sealed the deal.
Outside of that one big pass play, Gloucester got phenomenal defense in the secondary from the likes of Cam Olsen, Nash Marshall, Severino and Velazquez. Marshall also aided a terrific performance by the line — Max Thomas, Kaleb Allen, Jarred Johnson, Zach Hashley and others were relentless up front — by blitzing from the outside for two big sacks on Belliard.
“Communication, doing their job, trusting in one another, complimentary defense … it was awesome. Just an all around great game,” said O’Connor. “We played man coverage; they took the challenge that we gave them on Monday where we said, ‘This is how we’re gonna stop them.’ They trusted it and they executed it.”
As for Marshall’s two rare quarterback takedowns, O’Connor couldn’t have been more pleased.
“He wanted it. He came right off after the first series and said, ‘Coach, it’s there, just let me know’,” said O’Connor. “And we called his number a couple times and he didn’t disappoint.”
Now 3-0 and riding high into next week’s home matchup with fellow non-conference foe Bishop Fenwick, O’Connor and his group are eager to keep the ball rolling and prove that Friday night’s triumph was no fluke.
“The kids came out flying tonight and kept playing for four quarters which is the most important part,” said O’Connor. “Now it’s just about keeping it going. We’ll celebrate this one, we’re happy about this one, but we’ll make improvements, get better and get back here on Friday night.”
Gloucester 26, St. Mary’s 14
at Newell Stadium, Gloucester High School
St. Mary’s (2-1);0;7;0;7;14
Gloucester (3-0);14;6;0;6;26
Scoring summary
G — Joe Allen 25 run (Jaylen Severino kick)
G — Cam Rodolosi 3 run (Severino kick)
SM — Tyren Hoeun 70 run (Ryan Esquivel kick)
G — Severino 25 run (kick failed)
SM — Sam Phelps 50 pass from Yaniel Belliard (Esquivel kick)
G — Rodolosi 41 run (kick failed)
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: St. Mary’s — Tyren Hoeun 6-92, Rowan Merryman 8-31, Yaniel Belliard 12-13, Ryan Buth 1-0, Jimmy Jennings 1-(-3); Gloucester — Joe Allen 18-89, Thomas Cribbs 15-83, Cam Rodolosi 3-48, Jaylen Severino 3-42, Vinnie Marrone 1-(-1).
PASSING: St. Mary’s — Belliard 8-24-117-1-2; Gloucester — Rodolosi 2-4-17-0-2.
RECEIVING: St. Mary’s — Michael Sherman 4-63, Sam Phelps 3-62, Merryman 1-(-8); Gloucester — Gavin Bren 1-23, Allen 1- (-6).