VIDEO: Warriors cough up two-score lead but rally for win over Mastery behind late safety and touchdown

Posted: January 1st 1970

Wildwood High School football coach Ken Loomis addresses his team after Friday's 30-22 win over Mastery Charter.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – Early in the third quarter of Friday’s game, the Wildwood High School football team held a two-score lead over Mastery Charter.

But then in the fourth, the Warriors needed to rally to get the victory.

Trailing 22-20, Wildwood was awarded a safety on the second play of the fourth quarter to tie the game when Mastery’s quarterback was judged to have intentionally grounded a pass from the end zone after being pressured by Joey Martin and Elyas Djoufelkit. On the ensuing drive, Gianni Troiano found Trevor Troiano for a 12-yard touchdown reception, and Wildwood went on to a 30-22 victory in its final home game of the regular season. Wildwood also held Homecoming and Senior Night festivities at the contest.

“We had a lot of momentum coming out in the second half but then we messed up a lot of coverages that they took advantage of,” Wildwood coach Ken Loomis said. “They have athletes. They have speed. They’re great competitors and they played a great game against us. But our kids never quit.”

Down 8-6 at the half, Wildwood (3-4) took advantage of a poor punt snap to take over inside the Mastery 10-yard line early in the third quarter. Gianni Troiano hit his cousin, Trevor, for a nine-yard score on the next play to put Wildwood in front at 12-8.

Djoukelkit recovered a fumble on Mastery’s next offensive play, and Jayvion Hennessy’s 29-yard touchdown run – just the team's second rushing touchdown of the season – and Matt Maher’s two-point conversion catch made the score 20-8.

Mastery (1-6) responded, however. Jack Thompson somehow got free for a 65-yard catch and run for a score on a third-and-15 play to get his team within a touchdown at 20-14. 

Mastery then got an interception from Jose Rodriguez, who returned it to the Wildwood 1-yard line. After a run for a loss and a penalty, Mastery took the lead on Kishaun Burks’ seven-yard touchdown reception and Thompson’s two-point run.

Wildwood, however, later forced the safety and went on an 11-play, 53-yard drive to take the lead for good on Trevor Troiano’s second touchdown reception and Gianni Troiano’s two-point conversion run. Wildwood had two key plays on the possession. First was Maher’s acrobatic catch of a tipped pass for a nine-yard gain and a first down on a third-and-8 play. Second was Gianni Troiano’s five-yard run on a fourth-and-5 play that kept the drive alive.

Rasheem Jones opened the scoring for Wildwood, catching an 11-yard touchdown pass from Gianni Troiano on the team’s opening drive of the game. Mastery scored a touchdown and two-point conversion in the second quarter, setting the stage for a wild, high-scoring second half.

As is the program’s tradition at the final home game each season, Loomis walked with the team’s seniors from one end zone to the other after the team’s post-game huddle. The remaining fans and the rest of the team’s players applauded them as they did so.

“It’s always great to win at home, especially the last home game,” Loomis said. “I told the seniors to take a piece of whatever grass is left on this field and frame it. It’s a heck of a way for our seniors to go out.”

Wildwood is next in action at Palmyra on Saturday, Oct. 17, before closing the regular season at Haddon Township on Oct. 23.