Little Doubt: Kade Little’s Pick 6 leads Middletown North to playoff win over Middletown South 28-19

MIDDLETOWN – The smile on the face of Kade Little widened when asked if his father, a former football standout at Middletown South, would speak to him after the game.

“Yes, he will,” Little said.

Just moments earlier, the junior linebacker put the dagger in the heart of his father’s alma mater, returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown, blowing open a 2-point game and leading third-seeded Middletown North to a 28-19 win over sixth-seeded Middletown South, their first win over the Eagles in nine years, which propelled them to a Central Jersey Group 4 semifinal appearance.

The first playoff meeting between the crosstown rivals since 2015 started with a bang. On the very first play from scrimmage, North junior running back Matt Belenko (21-165-2 TDs) took a handoff, burst up the middle, and accelerated for a 75-yard touchdown run, putting the Lions up 6-0.

“It was a bad snap, then I almost fumbled the handoff,” said Belenko. “It actually helped, as the defense got upfield, my line opened a huge hole, I hit it and got to the end zone.”

The score remained 6-0 until the 10:06 mark of the second quarter, when Belenko ripped off a 14-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion pass from senior quarterback Owen Robson to Little made the score 14-0.

The Eagles answered with a 4:55 drive that covered 66 yards and ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass on a slant from senior quarterback Luca Donofrio to senior wide receiver Logan Burbank, cutting North’s lead to 14-7 with 5:49 left in the half.

North went three-and-out on its next drive, setting up South with a possession on its own 28 with 3:58 remaining in the half.

Junior running back Justin Rosato (25-136) ripped off runs of 15 and 16 yards on the drive. After a Lions’ timeout with 46.5 seconds left, on third-and-goal from the 4, Donofrio and Burbank hooked up for their second touchdown connection. The extra point was blocked, giving North a 14-13 lead heading into halftime.

The Lions started their second drive of the second half at the Eagles’ 42-yard line with 5:21 left in the third quarter.

A 10-yard pass from Robson to senior wide receiver Jack Viola on a third-and-3 moved the ball to the 25. On the next play, Robson rolled out to his right and found junior wide receiver Dan Sigler wide open for a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Lions a 21-13 lead with 3:44 left in the quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Rosato took the handoff but was stonewalled by a host of North defenders, forcing a turnover on downs.

North the. went three-and-out, but a booming punt by senior Seamus Montegue pinned the Eagles at their own 7-yard line.

Just when North thought it had the momentum, South snatched it right back. On the Eagles’ first play from the 7, Donofrio rolled out and saw Burbank at the 40-yard line. Donofrio lofted a pass and Burbank outjumped two defenders and raced the last 60 yards for a 93-yard touchdown, his third of the game. Down 21-19, South decided to go for 2. Donofrio’s pass, intended for Burbank, fell incomplete in the back of the end zone.

North got the ball back with 9:47 left in the game. Starting at their own 34, the Lions went on a 12-play drive that lasted 6:10.

Facing a fourth-and-10 from the 28, North went for it, but Robson was sacked by senior lineman Dylan Lynch for a 7-yard loss.

South took over at its own 35 with 3:27 left in the game. On third-and-four from the 41, Little stepped in front of a pass intended for Burbank and raced 45 yards for the end zone, giving North a 27-19 lead. Montegue’s extra point was good, making it a two-score game at 28-19 with 2:47 left.

“I got set and saw the wheel route,” Little said. “I got a big smile on my face, and thought, ‘Don’t drop it!’ I caught it and got to the end zone.  It was a great feeling.”

South got the ball back with 2:41 left, but on a third-and-17 from the 47, Donofrio was picked off again, this time by junior defensive back Mark Parulis. North was able to take two knees and end the game.

“That play by Little was huge,” said Middletown North coach Steve Bush. “But also credit Belenko, who was a workhorse for us tonight. He is a great football player with great vision, and he has stepped up all season.”

“On the fourth-and-10 play, I decided not to kick the field goal because I thought it was a little out of his range, and it was into the wind. But, I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Bush continued. “Offense, defense, special teams, they all stepped up tonight. It was a total team win.”

Asked if ending the 9-game losing streak to South was more special because it was a state playoff game, both Little and Belenko gave a resounding “Yes!”

Middletown North will move on to the second round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs and travel to second-seeded Manalapan next week. Middletown South has the option to pick up a consolation game, or they will have to wait 3 weeks until their Thanksgiving Day rematch with Middletown North.

 

Stats

Passing:

Midd North- Robson 8-16 70 yards TD

Midd South: Donofrio 7-18 154 yards 3 TD’s

 

Rushing:

Midd North- Belenko 21-165 2 TD’s; Robson 4-1; Jacques 1-14

Midd South: Rosato 25-136; Donofrio 9-25; Leon 3-18; Murphy 2-3

 

Receiving:

Midd North- Viola 3-13; Clark 1-7; Sigler 3-39 TD; Little 1-14

Midd South- Burbank 6-152 3 TD’s; Rosato 1-2

 

Stats

Passing:

Midd North- Robson 8-16 70 yards TD

Midd South: Donofrio 7-18 154 yards 3 TD’s

 

Rushing:

Midd North- Belenko 21-165 2 TD’s; Robson 4-1; Jacques 1-14

Midd South: Rosato 25-136; Donofrio 9-25; Leon 3-18; Murphy 2-3

 

Receiving:

Midd North- Viola 3-13; Clark 1-7; Sigler 3-39 TD; Little 1-14

Midd South- Burbank 6-152 3 TD’s; Rosato 1-2