Long Reach converted twice on fourth-and-long plays in the fourth quarter to defeat Glenelg, 32-21, Friday night on a rain-slicked field at Long Reach High School.

Down, 21-12, at halftime, Long Reach (1-1) scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to pick up its first win of the season. Glenelg (1-1), which opened the season a week ago with a win, suffered its first loss.

The Lightning were down, 21-18, with 6:50 left in the game and found itself with a fourth-and-11 on the Glenelg 27-yard line when sophomore Dajon Modeste rolled out and connected with a streaking Patrick Blackmon for a 26-yard gain down to the Glenelg  1-yard line. Javaugh Walker then punched the ball over the goal line for the go-ahead score and eventual game-winner as Long Reach led, 24-21.

I was a little worried," Modeste said of his pass. "But I know my receivers have good hands."

Blackmon leaped horizontally and caught the ball, then held on to it  as he hit the ground for the reception that set up the game-winning touchdown.

"I just concentrated, put my hands out and came up with the ball," Blackmon said.

On the ensuing possession, Long Reach's Joey Montag intercepted a tipped pass to give the ball back to the Lightning. Fullback Scott Korzienski then put the game out of reach with an 8-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play with 90 seconds left in the game

I'm so short, when I get low they can't see me," the 5-foot-8 sophomore said.

Long Reach had seven backs rush for positive yardage, led by Walker with 83 yards on 16 carries and Kwasi Sarpong, who had 72 yards on 15 carries. Glenelg had two 100-yard rushers: Shannon Maura (110 yards on 13 carries) and Colin Osbourne (101 yards on 17 carries). Both runners also scored touchdowns for Glenelg.

Long Reach's next game is Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at Howard. Glenelg will host Wilde Lake at 7 p.m. that same day.

For more on this game, read Thursday's editions of the Howard County Times and Columbia Flier.


LONG REACH 32, GLENELG 21
Glenelg (1-1)          14  7  0   0 -- 21
Long Reach (1-1)     6  6  6 14 -- 32
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
   G: Osbourne 4 run (Rosenthal kick), 8:19
   LR: Sarpong 20 run (kick failed), 6:04
   G: Brittain 1 run (Rosenthal kick), 1:32
Second Quarter
   LR: Walker 10 run (pass failed), 7:15
   G: Maura 1 run (Rosenthal kick), 2:18
Third Quarter
   LR: Sanders 17 run (pass failed), 3:40
Fourth Quarter
   LR: Walker 1 run (kick failed), 6:31
   LR: Korzienski 8 run (Beahm run), 1:12
 

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