A Lassiter offense that was held in check for the better of three quarters Friday came alive just in time, scoring 21 points in the game’s final 15 minutes to salvage a 21-14 victory over host Marietta at Northcutt Stadium.
Trojans quarterback Bradley Riopelle threw the game-winning touchdown pass, a 22-yarder to Taz Holt with 3:37 remaining, to cap the comeback from a 14-0 deficit as sixth-ranked Lassiter improved to 4-0.
“This is kind of the formula we’ve followed the last couple of games,” Lassiter coach Jep Irwin said. “We get behind, and then we come back in the second half. We’ve shown a lot of toughness and a lot of resiliency. Our defense, it’s hard to go out there series after series. They’ve done a really good job, and our offense got going in the second half and was much more effective moving the ball.”
Marietta led 14-0 when freshman quarterback Harrison Bailey threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to De’Wayne Smith with 6:46 to play in the third quarter.
The Trojans took the ensuing kickoff and drove 67 yards in 11 plays, finally getting on the scoreboard on a 1-yard run by Alex Venturino with 2:27 left in the quarter.
It was the spark Lassiter needed. After holding Marietta to short drives on its next two possessions, the Trojans got the ball at their 46 after a short punt and went 54 yards in seven plays, tying the score 14-14 on a 5-yard run by Mason Waters with 4:49 remaining in the game.
Marietta (1-3) was pinned deep in its territory after the kickoff and was forced to punt. Lassiter returned it 14 yards to the Marietta 22 and took the lead for good on the next play.
Neither team was effective running the ball – they combined for 53 total yards rushing – which left the outcome of the game primarily in the hands of Riopelle and Bailey, who finished with similar numbers. Riopelle was 18-for-29 passing for 224 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Bailey was 18-for-32 for 235 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Most of Bailey’s yards (149) came in the first half as the Blue Devils were building the lead. Most of Riopelle’s yards (156) came in the second half as the Trojans rallied.
Lassiter, which averaged 31 points in its first three games, finished with a 272-242 advantage in total offense.
Marietta got the only points of the first half on the game’s opening possession, driving 80 yards in 16 plays and taking up almost half of the quarter. The Blue Devils led 7-0 after Bailey’s 1-yard sneak.
“At some point, Marietta’s going to beat somebody really good, because their passing game is really good and their quarterback’s just a freshman,” Irwin said.
Lassiter – 0-0-7-14 – 21
Marietta – 7-0-7-0 – 14
M – Harrison Bailey 1 run (Luke Mozley kick)
M – De’Wayne Smith 30 pass from Bailey (Mozley kick)
L – Alex Venturino 1 run (Ethan Laudato kick)
L – Mason Waters 5 run (Laudato kick)
L – Taz Holt 22 pass from Bradley Riopelle (Laudato kick)
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