Top 10 Games from 2022: No. 2

By rbrown
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Updated: December 22, 2022

TOP 10 NHIAA GAMES FROM 2022
No. 2: Timberlane 29, Exeter 28

Here’s something you don’t see often: This game featured a team that had more than 450 yards of offense, wasn’t called for a penalty and didn’t commit a turnover — and lost.

Timberlane beat Exeter 29-28 in the Division I quarterfinals when quarterback Dom Coppetta scored on a 1-yard run with 37.8 seconds to play and then added the two-point conversion. Making the comeback even more improbable was the fact that Timberlane trailed by 14 with less than eight minutes to play.

Exeter broke a 14-14 tie on running back Aidan McGinley’s 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Hawks got the ball back on the ensuing drive after an Ethan Moss interception set up Exeter at Timberlane’s 44-yard line. Exeter QB Evan Pafford (six carries, 56 yards) finished the drive by bowling his way through defenders for a 27-yard touchdown to give Exeter a 28-14 lead with 8:05 left in regulation.

Coppeta then followed up a 26-yard completion to Ed Digiulio with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Mwangi. Harrison Bloom’s PAT brought Timberlane within 28-21 with 7:03 left in the fourth quarter. Mwangi finished the game with four receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. He also hauled in a 36-yard score in the second quarter.

Exeter jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after Pafford threw touchdown passes of 5 and 7 yards to Moss. Pafford completed 9 of 14 passes for 74 yards. Desmond Rugg led Exeter’s 237-yard rushing attack with 85 yards on 13 carries.

After Mwangi’s TD catch got the Owls on the scoreboard, Timberlane running back Liam Corman scampered 68 yards for a score to tie the game at 14-14 with 8:09 remaining in the third quarter.

The game’s final TD capped a 12-play, 86 yard drive. Then Coppeta took the snap from the shotgun formation and followed his offensive line into the end zone to give the Owls their first lead of the game.

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