What started as a magical season for DePaul Catholic, ended Saturday night with the Spartans losing for the third time in their last four games. Mater Dei upset DePaul, ranked No. 35 in the latest High School Football America 100 national rankings, 28-23 in the New Jersey Non-Public Group 3 state semifinals.
Mater Dei (10-1) won it on a 29-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Robert McCoy to junior receiver Clarence Lewis with 41 seconds left.
TD Mater Dei! What a game.
Mater Dei 28, DePaul 22 with 41 seconds to go. DePaul has 2 timeouts ??????? pic.twitter.com/rUbWSEgDVo
— Pat Lanni (@PatLanniHS) November 10, 2018
DePaul had a chance to win it on the final play of the game, but Tahaj Parland batted away a pass in the end zone to send the defending champs home for the season.
Absolute mayhem as Mater Dei wins 28-23! pic.twitter.com/izLbYx5KWV
— Pat Lanni (@PatLanniHS) November 10, 2018
Touchdown DePaul. Sean Kelly with a 24-yard catch and run. XP missed!
DePaul 23, Mater Dei 21 with 2:38 to go pic.twitter.com/OiKHu10SiQ
— Pat Lanni (@PatLanniHS) November 10, 2018
TD DePaul. Sean Kelly runs it in from 6 yards out to give DePaul its first lead. XP good. DePaul 17, Mater Dei 14 with 8:36 to play #njfootball pic.twitter.com/jIDOwUYPBm
— Pat Lanni (@PatLanniHS) November 10, 2018
Mater Dei will now play Red Bank Catholic for the Non-Public Group 3 title.