AUDUBON (N.J.) - Audubon limped out of the gate to an 0-2 start in its highly anticipated 2022 campaign.
Amauri Pimentel hauls in the go-ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter against Gloucester.
Chris Baker D2 Sports Network
Another setback loomed until Green Wave quarterback Scott Lynch and teammate Amauri Pimentel made the difference.
The pair hooked up on Lynch's fourth touchdown pass of the afternoon with 12.7 seconds left in regulation to lift Audubon past Gloucester, 29-23, in a West Jersey Football League Colonial Division clash.
Jake Zearfoss exploded for three touchdowns in the first half to put the Holy City up 20-0.
Lynch responded with the first of his four touchdown passes to Pimentel to narrow the margin to 20-7 with under four minutes left until halftime. It marked the first of three touchdown receptions for Pimentel.
Lynch helped the Green Wave chip away, connecting with Zach Beebe for his second passing score to cut the deficit to 20-14 early in the third quarter.
Gloucester extended its lead to nine points as Chris Ruggieri knocked a field goal through the uprights to give the Lions a 23-14 lead with over 10 minutes left in regulation.
Audubon wasted no time pulling closer as Lynch found Pimentel for second time.
Trailing 23-21, the Green Wave forced a turnover on downs with just one minute left in the game.
Lynch led a 73-yard march in 60 seconds to produce the deciding score. Billy Lindemuth and Charlie Grady made key plays down the stretch to open up opportunities for Pimentel to get open, including the the go-ahead touchdown with only 12.7 seconds left to play.
Audubon head coach Dan Reed was fully aware of the Green Wave’s slow start, but at halftime the adjustments made proved to be the difference.
“We went into halftime down 20-7 and we just went over everything we liked against them and just came out and played ball," Reed said. "We try to stay in the moment and take things one drive at a time. We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves so even though it sounds cliché, we just take it one thing at a time."
“We had to pass, but it is a comfortable feeling as a coach to have faith in a quarterback like Scott back there," Reed added. "None of those plays were me."
Lynch credited his teammates for his four-touchdown outburst, leading the Green Wave to their first win of the season.
"Just get the ball to my playmakers and let them make plays," Lynch said. “I know every single person on Gloucester and it was great to play against them and it was more fun coming out with the win."
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