MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 15, 1999

RIVER RIDGE – Immaculate Conception scored on a deep pass with five seconds remaining to eliminate Ascension of Our Lord from the first round of the Catholic School Athletic League Senior Flag Football Championships held at St. Mathew’s Tuesday afternoon, 26-20.The Crusaders appeared to have sealed the victory in the last minute as Ryan Guillot came away with a sack on third down. On the next play, JoelEmerson took a deflected pass and returned it for an apparent touchdown.

But the Crusaders were ruled to have hit the quarterback rather than the ball, giving the Chargers an automatic first down and setting up the winning score on the next play.

Ascension of Our Lord took over and Michael Pecoraro scrambled for a first down but the Crusaders could not get another play off before the game ended.

Ascension of Our Lord had rallied from a 19-6 halftime deficit to take a 20-19 lead. On the Crusaders’ first possession of the second half,Pecoraro found Chris Cottone in the end zone for the score. Pecoraro thenthrew to James Arruebarrena for the extra point to cut the deficit to 19- 13.

The Cruaders got the ball back after Pecoraro tipped away a pass on fourth down on the Chargers’ next possession. Ascension of Our Lord then droveinside the 5-yard line with Pecoraro scrambling right for the score.

Pecoraro then found Kraig Cason for the extra point, giving the Crusaders a 20-19 lead.

Immaculate Conception was called for three penalties, including two unsportsmanlike penalties, on its next possession and were forced to punt.

The Chargers held the Crusaders on the ensuing possession and Daniel LeBlanc boomed a 40-yard punt to put Immaculate Conception deep in its own territory.

Ascension of Our Lord tied the game at 6 in the first quarter on a pass from Pecoraro to Arruebarrena before the Chargers came back with two second quarter scores to take the 19-6 halftime lead.

Ascension of Our finished the season with a 9-2 record, having captured the River Parishes Championship. Team members were T.J. Dunn, ChrisCottone, Chris Hanes, Joel Emerson, Michael Pecoraro, Matt Weber, Daniel LeBlanc, Elzey Vial, James Arruebarrena, Jimmy Mustian, Kraig Cason, Ryan Guillot and Larry Giles. The team was coached by Mike Pecoraro andWayne LeBlanc.

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