Inches away from reaching the end zone for a second consecutive week, MacArthur senior lineman Andrew Calderon still managed to make a pivotal play to lead the Generals to the win column.
With his team holding a 12-point lead, Calderon made an acrobatic interception late in the second quarter and was a step away from a clear path to the end zone before he was tripped by Mepham senior quarterback Billy Kender inside the 20. The takeaway set up senior Ryan Isom’s 6-yard touchdown run as MacArthur cruised to a 33-14 Conference II home victory last Saturday.
“We practiced defending their screens a lot this week,” said Calderon, who recovered a blocked field-goal attempt and raced 79 yards for a touchdown in a 27-6 season-opening win at South Side. “When I saw him roll out, I was expecting the throw to come my way,” he added. “I almost fumbled after I caught it. I was thinking touchdown but the quarterback got me by the ankles.”
The interception was the second of three on the day for MacArthur’s defense, which held the Pirates (1-1) scoreless until the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Kender scrambled for a 5-yard touchdown. Juniors Matt Papach and Steve Weber also picked off passes, and junior Finn Duffy had a huge pass breakup in the end zone to foil a fourth-and-goal on the series before Calderon’s big play.
“They had a couple of chances to make it a one-possession game and our defense came through,” MacArthur head coach Bob Fehrenbach said. “Offensively, we popped some nice runs which was good to see. If you run it enough, you’re bound to crack a couple.”