AUGUSTA — The miracle Cony needed to win Friday night nearly required an act of blind faith.

Trailing by six and facing 4th-and-28 with less than two minutes left, Mitchell Caron completed a 36-yard pass to Anthony Brunelle, the key play that kept Cony’s hopes alive in a 22-21 win over Greely at Alumni Field.

“I lost it in the lights at first,” Brunelle said. “But it came down, I saw it, got in front of the defender and got some extra yards out of it.”

Four plays later, Tayler Carrier pounded it in from inside the 1-yard line with 12 seconds remaining to tie it. Spencer Buck’s extra point split the uprights and Cony pulled out an improbable comeback win.

Down 21-15 at the half, Cony (5-2) shut out Greely (4-3) in the second half, but had to rally after the Rangers’ defense bent but didn’t break on two occasions.

“We faced the same situation last year in the state game, being down at the half, being down by 16 with a quarter-and-a-half to go,” Carrier said. “This is what this team does. We fight back when we’re down. When things aren’t going our way, we make good plays and we get the job done.”

Carrier rushed for two touchdowns and ended the game with an interception at midfield. But he was immense in the passing game, catching 14 passes for 187 yards.

“A couple of times I had to rush it and throw it away because a couple of guys seeped through the line. But most of the time, I know where he’s going to go and I put it where he wants it,” said Caron (22-for-34, 308 yards, one touchdown, one interception).

Greely emerged from a see-saw first half with the lead after scoring twice in two minutes.

Sam Peck weaved his way through the Cony secondary on a 61-yard TD reception from Matt Pisini (11-for-19, 108 yards, 2 TD) that tied the game, 15-15, with 3:27 left in the half.

On Cony’s next possession, Andrew Verrill stripped Brunelle following a reception near the Greely sideline. Verrill caught the ball in midair and returned it 40 yards to the Rams’ 15. On the Rangers’ next play, Pisini rolled right and found Alex Krost wide open in the end zone for a 21-15 lead with 1:26 to go in the half.

“We prepped for option all week and their run game. They kind of grinded it out last year against us (in a 35-21 Greely win),” Cony coach Robby Vachon said. “We expected the same thing (Friday) and they came out throwing it. Give them credit. Their quarterback throws a nice ball, he’s really elusive, and their kids made some catches tonight.”

Cony started the second half with a 15-play drive that lasted nearly eight minutes but ended in disappointment when Peck stuffed Carrier in the backfield on 4th-and-goal at the 1.

The Rams put together a 14-play drive on their next possession, marching to Greely’s 20, only to have Verrill break up a Caron pass intended for Brunelle in the end zone on 4th-and-15.

Cony had the ball for more than 18 of the 24 minutes in the second half.

“I’m sure that we probably did (get worn out in the second half). It was a very emotional game,” Greely coach David Higgins said. “Cony’s a good football team, defending state champs, and there’s an aura to all of that. Our kids gave it their all and that’s all you can ask.”

Cony’s final drive seemed destined for disappointment, too. After driving to Greely’s 28, the Rams put themselves in the hole with a false start, two bobbled snaps and a sack. Then Caron and Brunelle pulled off the miracle.

“We were looking for 25 (Carrier), obviously. He made some huge plays all night,” Vachon said. “But Anthony’s made some big plays for us at the end of games and at the end of halves. He’s got a nice 6-2 frame and he made a big play.”

“He’s the only giraffe in America with thumbs,” said Cony running back Reid Shostak, referring to Brunelle’s nickname, “Baby Giraffe.”

“He’s a stud, though,” Caron said.

Randy Whitehouse — 621-5638

rwhitehouse@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @RAWmaterial33

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