FREEHOLD, NJ—The New Brunswick High School Zebras football team shocked Freehold Township Patriots as they came from behind to win in overtime, bringing the team to 3-4 on the season.

The Zebras star running back Samad Davila helped lead the way as he carried the ball 24 times for 129 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

Although Davila was the games Most Valuable Player, Zebras Quarterback Trevon Blakey threw the game-winning 25-yard Touchdown pass to Maurice Ffrench in overtime.

Freehold Township were first to put points on the board as they started the game off with a 7-0 lead over New Brunswick as Freehold’s Max Nowak scored on a 7-yard run. It wasn’t  long, though, before New Brunswick’s Samad Davila found the endzone and tied the game up 7-7. 

Freehold Township would take the lead, again, after Jack O’Brien’s 17 yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Fenton. After both teams failed to score during the third quarter, the score remained 14-7 Freehold.

Davila tied the game up 14-14 on a 1-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter, following an epic 19-play drive that lasted 11 minutes saw New Brunswick march 95 yards down the field.

New Brunswick’s next possesion was just as impressive as Davila capped off  a 10-play, 93-yard drive with his third touchdown of the game; a 20 yard run that put the Zebras up 21-14 and gave New Brunswick their first lead of the game.  

Freehold Township would respond with Quarterback Jack O’Brien throwing his second touchdown pass of the game, a 20-yard completion to tight end Kyle Fenton.  The duo’s second scoring connection of the game tied the game up 21-21.

New Brunswick almost won the game in regulation but their kicker missed a 27-yard field goal attempt.

Freehold Township got first possesion in overtime and made it all the way to New Brunswick’s 2-yard line.  But the impressive Zebras defense held the Patriots out of the endzone and forced them to try for a field goal,.

Freehold failed to get the kick off as the Patriots had a problem with the snap and hold. 

The Zebras got the ball back and drove down the field with Quarterback Trevon Blakey hitting Maurice Ffrench for the 25-yard touchdown pass to win the game. 

“Kids played hard. that was the big thing,” said NBHS Coach Don Solfilkanich, who said he could not remember coaching a team that had two 90-yard drives in one game. “We really grinded it out.”

Maurice Ffrench had a solid 14 carries for 88 yards and 3 catches for 43 yards and the game-winning TD.  Trevon Blakey rushed for 41 yards on 6 carries and completed 4 of 12 passes for 63 yards, including the touchdown pass to Ffrench.

Revan also caught a pass for a 2-point conversion and Contreras made one of two extra points.

The Zebras next game is against Colonia on Friday October 31 at 7pm in New Brunswick’s Memorial Stadium.