Millville has been a second-half team all season, usually doing its best work in the fourth quarter.
On this night, its defense delivered those big plays down the stretch.
A lot of them. For a team on the cusp of a state title, mental mistakes put pressure on the ‘D.’ Four second-half turnovers nearly did it in.
Every single time, the Thunderbolts saved the day.
Holding No. 8 Northern Highlands scoreless in the second half, No. 13 Millville went ahead in the third quarter and rode its defense to an 18-14 victory in the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics Group 4 state final at Rutgers on Saturday night.
“Our defense won the game for us,” first-year head coach Humberto Ayala said.
Millville (12-2) trailed at halftime in each of its last five games - which included its Thanksgiving showdown with rival Vineland. Each time, it rallied.
In five postseason games, the Thunderbolts didn’t allow a point in the fourth quarter. They gave up just 14 points total in the second half - seven to Hammonton, seven to Mainland.
“We’re a defense that puts out fires,” said senior linebacker Solomon Massey-Kent, who had five tackles and a sack in the historic victory. “Our defense is the best in South Jersey and we had to show off.
“Our D-line got a lot of pressure and our coverage was good.”
Northern Highlands (9-4) had eight second-half possessions. The Highlanders collected just 73 total offensive yards, finishing with 251 overall. Of their 13 first downs, five came in the second half.
The possessions went:
- Punt
- Punt
- Blocked field-goal attempt
- Turn over on downs
- Punt
- Turn over on downs
- Interception by Kyon Conyers
- Sack by Jayden Jones
A freshman, Jones sealed the outcome with his third sack of the season. With 16 seconds left, the game was finally over.
“We’ve been doing this all year, making those big stops. It’s nothing new to us,” Jones said.
“There was a whole lot of excitement, chills went through my body. Doing this as a freshman is really a true opportunity. You couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Bricere Hunter led the way with seven tackles, 1 1/2 tackles for loss and a sack. A’Cear Cornish had five tackles, while Jamal Wallace Jr. had four tackles. Lotzeir Brooks was one of five with three tackles apiece, also blocking a field-goal attempt with two seconds left in the third quarter.
“We had to play together as a team; play together and fire around,” Hunter said. “We weren’t nervous. We knew what we had to do to pull out the win. It’s happened to us before, so we knew what to expect.”
“It’s all about what’s up here in the head,” Brooks said. “We have to play as one team, can’t break. You can’t have your head down.”
At halftime, Millville found itself down again. There was no panic. The Bolts had been there before.
“I talked to the defensive coaches,” Ayala said. “I trust my coaching staff. They put it together and made the adjustments.”
Adjustments that led to an historic victory, and a major sigh of relief.
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Kevin Minnick covers the West Jersey Football League. He can be reached at kminnick@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kminnicksports
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