Rockets upset Harvard

Updated: October 8, 2011 12:27AM

Led by its defense, Burlington Central made a big statement in the Big Northern East on Friday night, beating host and previously unbeaten Harvard 14-7.

Leading 14-7 late in the fourth quarter, the Rockets’ defense was put to the test against a team that came in averaging 35.7 points per game.

After starting a drive at their own 24-yard line, the Hornets marched down the field, pounding the ball at the Rockets with running backs Brad Lovell and Matt Smith.

Facing a fourth-and-two at Central’s 13-yard line with just over three minutes left, Lovell was stopped in his tracks by junior lineman Andrew Yarwood as the Rockets took the ball over on downs.

However, Central’s offense quickly went three-and-out, giving Harvard another opportunity with first-and-10 and Central’s 40-yard line with less than three minutes remaining.

A pass from quarterback Timmy Linhart to Collin Nolen, and a pass interference penalty eventually gave Harvard a second-and-10 at Central’s 15-yard line. That’s when senior Johnny Major intercepted a pass intended for Nolen in the back of the end zone with 1:50 remaining to seal the win for Central.

“We knew they were eventually going to go to the out-and-up,” Central coach Rich Crabel said. “Johnny sat on top of that ball just like he was supposed to and went up against a really good kid who has a whole bunch of yards catching the ball this year.”

The win makes Central (5-2, 2-1) playoff eligible for the first time since 2007, and helps erase the memory of heartbreaking loss to Richmond-Burton two weeks prior. The Rockets held Harvard to 232 yards of total offense, 75 which came from the Linhart-to-Nolen connection, which Central had trouble stopping all game, until Major’s interception.

“It’s a bend-don’t-break defense. We needed to be in our spots, and just fly around to the ball,” Major said. “Coach always tells us to expect to win because of the way we prepare. We believe we can beat anyone, but you gotta think you’re the underdog a little bit tonight.”

Central took a 7-0 lead with 1:58 left in the first quarter after capping a 14-play 73-yard drive with a Joel Bouagnon 16-yard touchdown scamper up the middle on a third-and-10.

Harvard (6-1, 2-1) tied the game at 7-7 with 7:05 left in the half on a controversial call. Linhart threw a fade route to Nolen down the left sideline. Nolen dove and caught the ball, but the ball popped out when he hit the ground. Nevertheless, the play stood as a 28-yard touchdown play.

Central instantly took back the momentum after Alex Johnson took a squib kick 60 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff to give Central a 14-7 lead with 6:56 left in the half.

Bouagnon led the Central offense, rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Central finished with just 201 yards of offense but was aided by solid special teams all game that lead to good field position.

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