Hurricanes battle back in overtime to claim victory at homecoming

Two homecoming games, two victories in a row for the Coral Shores High football team, but after spoiling the celebration of Archbishop Carroll, the Hurricanes nearly had their festivities ruined in a similar fashion by Neumann High. If not for some late-game heroics from ‘Canes senior quarterback Yemcel Moreno, who passed for the game-tying touchdown to send the game to overtime, where he would score the go-ahead points for the 25-18 victory on Friday, Oct. 25, at George M. Barley Jr. Stadium in Tavernier.

In fact, the overtime touchdown was just the second time Coral Shores was ahead in the contest, the first after a first-quarter field goal by William Judson, but the lead was short-lived as Neumann answered with a 15-yard touchdown pass and two-point conversion for an 8-3 advantage that would hold through the remainder of the first half.

The Celtics’ lead was stretched to eight points after a field goal on the opening second-half possession, but this time it was the Hurricanes with an answer on a 42-yard touchdown run by A.J. Putetti with Moreno going in for the two-point conversion to bring the score back even at 11.

Neumann responded right back with a 78-yard touchdown strike, but so did Coral Shore as Moreno connected with Putetti — who collected 177 rushing yards on 23 totes and a touchdown via the ground attack — for a 31-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 18-all with just minutes remaining in regulation. That still left enough time for the Celtics to go in for the score, but the Hurricanes — led on defense by Eddie Holly Jr. with 14 tackles, three for a loss, and four assists, Jhonathan Mesa with six solo tackles, Putetti with seven tackles — would force a turnover on downs to send the game into the extra period.

During overtime, Moreno punched home the Hurricanes’ possession with a 1-yard touchdown run, while the defense forced a second straight turnover on down to seal their homecoming victory.

With the season finale upon the Hurricanes (8-1 overall), Coral Shores still have the Monroe County title to play for against Key West on Friday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m., during which will be a third-straight homecoming game the ‘Canes have an opportunity to claim victory.