Adam Elliot’s Last-Second Field Goal Lifts Matawan Past Manasquan For Fifth Straight Win

MANASQUAN -- Senior Adam Elliot kicked a 25-yard field goal with four seconds left in regulation and Matawan stopped Manasquan on a Hail Mary attempt on the game’s final play for a wild Shore Conference Class A Central victory on Saturday afternoon at Vic Kubu Warrior Field.

Matawan (5-3, 3-3) drove from its own 21-yard line to the Manasquan 1-yard line on eight straight runs by senior running back Makiya Ceasar to set up Elliot’s game-winning kick. Elliot had missed an extra point in the fourth quarter after Matawan took a 27-21 lead, but found vindication in nailing the winner. Senior Shawn Ramcheran kept the score tied when he blocked a Manasquan extra point after the Warriors had scored to tie the game at 27 with 3:55 left in the fourth quarter.

Ceasar finished with 182 yards rushing on 25 carries and also caught a 49-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore quarterback George Pearson threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns on 11-of-17 passing, also connecting with Aliem Shaw on a 77-yard score and Ramcheran on a 38-yard touchdown pass. Junior running back Derrick Wiley added an 11-yard touchdown run. Shaw was also a force on defense a sack and three tackles for a loss.

Junior running back Parker Day ran for a game-high 225 yards and scored on runs of 76 and 47 yards for Manasquan (3-4, 2-3). Senior Liam Grieb threw a 48-yard touchdown to junior tight end Kyle Leblanc and also hooked up with Leblanc for a two-point conversion. Senior running back Paul Krueger scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter.

After starting the season 0-3, Matawan, the defending NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III champions, have won five in a row to lock up a playoff spot.

Box Score

Matawan 30, Manasquan 27

Matawan (5-3, 3-3) 7 7 7 9 – 30

Manasquan (3-4, 2-3) 6 0 8 13 – 27

Scoring summary

First quarter

Squan – Paul Krueger 1-yard run (Shane Flanagan kick)

Mat – George Pearson 73-yard pass to Aliem Shaw (Adam Elliot kick)

Second quarter

Mat – Derrick Wiley 11-yard run (Adam Elliot kick)

Third quarter

Squan – Parker Day 76-yard run (Liam Grieb pass to Kyle Leblanc)

Mat – George Pearson 49-yard pass to Makiya Ceaser (Adam Elliot kick)

Fourth quarter

Squan – Parker Day 47-yard run (Shane Flanagan kick)

Mat – George Pearson 38-yard pass to Shawn Ramcheran (kick failed)

Squan – Liam Grieb 48-yard pass to Kyle Leblanc (kick blocked)

Mat – Adam Elliot 25-yard field goal

Individual statistics

Rushing – Mat: Makiya Ceaser 25-182, Isaiah Phillip 2-24, Derrick Wiley 1-11, George Pearson 2-2, Shawn Ramcheran 1-1; Squan: Parker Day 22-225, Paul Krueger 15-39, Jack Mallett 1-33, Connor Morgan 1-2, Liam Grieb 1-(-4).

Passing – Mat: George Pearson 11-17-2 237; Squan: Liam Grieb 4-9-1 98.

Receiving – Mat: Aliem Shaw 1-73, Shawn Ramcheran 3-60, Makiya Ceaser 1-49, Jake Burlew 3-29, Alex Pierce 2-19, Joe Beukers 1-7; Squan: Kyle Leblanc 2-77, Damaso Jaime 2-21.

Interceptions – Mat: Jake Burlew 1-0, Will Casagrande 1-10; Squan: Shane Flanagan 1-0, Damaso Jaime 1-5.