Marist wins on O’Neill’s last-second kick

Updated: October 8, 2011 12:05AM

Ahead two touchdowns, it appeared Marist was going to romp over St. Patrick.

Appearances deceived. The Shamrocks gave Marist a battle before Dan Schmidt’s punt block with 14.1 seconds left set up Tom O’Neill’s game-winning 38-yard field goal and Marist’s 31-28 margin as time expired in Mount Greenwood.

“I probably made that kick 500 times since summer,” O’Neill said. “Before the kick, I just thought about making it in practice.”

Marist advanced to 5-2, 5-1 in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

The dramatic finish came about after St. Patrick (3-4, 2-4), led by quarterback Ryan Tentler’s 118 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, came back from a 21-7 deficit. Tentler’s 31-yard rush helped make it 28-all with 3:10 to play.

Marist opened with Peter Andreotti’s two touchdown runs (5, 27 yards). Ian Woodworth (20-of-29, 263 yards) threw touchdown passes to Ryan Carroll (27 yards) and Nic Weischer (37 yards), the latter giving Marist a 28-20 lead with 7:47 to play.

The RedHawks lost ace receiver-defensive back Ryan Meyer to a shoulder injury midway through the third quarter.

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