It was a game of big offensive plays that was decided by a dramatic defensive stop.
Linebacker Anthony Gallo's tackle on fourth and goal from the 3-yard line with 35 seconds to play sealed Eastern's 30-26 victory over Winslow Township on Monday in an entertaining West Jersey Football League interdivision game.
"I'll take that one over every other tackle," Gallo said. "It was my most meaningful tackle, because it helped us win the game."
Junior Tyrone Thompson ran for two TDs, and sophomore quarterback Tom Flacco passed for one score and ran for another for Eastern (3-5).
Junior quarterback Adonis Melvins passed for one touchdown and ran for another for Winslow Township (2-6).
"We're learning," Eagles coach Calvin Thompson said. "We're getting better. We've made a lot of progress since the beginning of the season.
"But you have to give Eastern credit. They landed the last punch."
It was a back-and-forth battle between Group 4 teams that have been eliminated from conference title and playoff contention.
Both played high-octane offense for the first three quarters, trading scores and leads.
"We've been getting better, execution-wise," Eastern coach Dan Spittal said. "That's what these kids have been trying to do, get better every week."
Winslow Township held leads of 7-0, 13-3, and 19-7 at halftime. The Eagles got good work from Melvins, who was 11 for 21 passing for 128 yards and ran 12 times for 64 yards.
Eastern rallied to leads of 17-13, 23-19, and, finally, 30-26.
The Vikings' ground game featured strong work by the offensive line and good running by Thompson (eight carries, 23 yards), Kiernan Bibbs (eight carries, 58), and T.J. Gardner (nine carries, 53).
Flacco was 6 for 11 passing for 89 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown to Ian Sawyer. Flacco also ran seven times for 57 yards.
Winslow Township took possession at its own 34-yard line trailing by 30-26 with 1 minute, 55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Melvins led the Eagles down the field with pass completions of 23 yards to Phil Mayhue, and 8 and 20 yards to Billy Johnson.
From the 10, Melvins ran twice for 7 yards and threw an incompletion, setting up fourth and goal from the 3-yard line with 0:39 on the clock.
"I wanted to put the ball in the hands of my best athlete," Thompson said of Johnson, the team's speedy wide receiver.
Johnson went in motion from right to left and took an inside handoff from Melvins.
"We wanted to run him on a 'jet' and have him dive for the pylon," Thompson said.
Gallo blitzed from right outside linebacker and was waiting for Johnson. Gallo made the tackle for a 6-yard loss, ending Winslow Township's last drive.
"I came clean and saw the ball coming my way," Gallo said. "I said, 'That's mine.' "
Eastern 0 17 13 0 - 30
Winslow Township 7 12 7 0 - 26
W: Phil Mayhue 12 pass from Adonis Melvins (Andrew Dutchess kick)
E: Bill Long 47 FG
W: Melvins 34 run (kick failed)
E: Ian Sawyer 55 pass from Tom Flacco (Long kick)
E: Tyronne Thompson 1 run (Long kick)
W: Billy Johnson 4 pass from Melvins (kick failed)
E: Thompson 1 run (run failed)
W: Jaibril Hines 12 run (Dutchess kick)
E: Flacco 1 run (Long kick)
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
