Avalon Limo Drive of the Game: Pirates showcased quick-strike ability to win state championship

The Cedar Creek offense got the ball on its own 25-yard line. No big deal. Just have to go 75 yards in less than four minutes and score a touchdown — or lose in the state championship game for the second time in four years, to the same team. West Deptford had just gone ahead 27-21 on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Nick Diaco to Paz Gismondi. The Pirates had 3:39 to either mount the drive of their lives or watch the Eagles celebrate another state title at midfield. The drive didn’t start out all that impressive, as Isaiah Watson was stopped after just a two-yard run on first down. But then quarterback Jesse Milza found Bo Melton over the middle for a 15-yard gain out to the 42-yard line. Milza then connected with Ahmir Mitchell, but the play went for just five yards, up to the 47. On the next play, West Deptford defensive lineman Bobby Brewer swatted down a Milza pass, bringing up third-and-6 with 2:31 remaining. Junior wide receiver Bo Melton had several key catches on Cedar Creek’s final drive during the Pirates’ win over West Deptford in the South Jersey Group 2 championship game on Sunday at Rowan University. (Glory Days Magazine photo/Dave O’Sullivan) Like he had all game, with the Pirates needing a big play, Milza went to Melton. The pass play went for 10 yards and gave Cedar Creek a fresh set of downs. Milza found Melton again for a 6-yard gain, to the Eagles’ 38-yard line, but an incomplete pass brought up another crucial third-down play. Milza dropped back and went through his progressions. Cedar Creek’s offensive line gave the junior lefty enough time to find Malachi Timberlake on a swing pass near the left sideline. What happened next epitomized Cedar Creek’s offense this season. Timberlake took what seemed like a simple 5-yard pass play and turned it into the game-tying touchdown. He made a move on the defensive back covering him, cutting to the inside, then cut back toward the sideline and out-ran a pair of West Deptford defenders. “We have so many skill players who made great plays today. Malachi Timberlake had a great catch, Bo Melton had runs, Isaiah Watson stepped up big and was running the ball hard. I just couldn’t be happier,” said senior wide receiver Louie Pitale, who caught a touchdown earlier that helped Cedar Creek tie the game at 21. “You can’t put this into words. It’s just heart. That’s what we have been preaching all year. We are a team with heart and were never going to back down from a fight.” The Avalon Limo Drive of the Game showcased Cedar Creek’s ability to score, and score quickly. The Pirates needed just 2:25 to march 75 yards, and Pat Moran’s extra point gave the squad its first state championship in school history. The defense held on West Deptford’s last gasp drive in the final minute, as Cedar Creek finished the season 10-2 and handed the Eagles their first loss of the season.