"It was nerve-racking," Tomlinson said. "But the team was behind me. It was a good snap, a good hold - it's hard to miss that."
After turning the ball over four times - at least once in each of the first three quarters - fortunate was a word that came to mind as the Haddonfield football team marched down the field with a chance to win in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
But to call the Bulldogs fortunate was to overlook a spectacular defensive performance.
The Haddonfield defense did not allow a point, stopped Sterling three times on fourth down, and kept the Bulldogs in the game until they finally put together a cohesive drive.
"Our defense has played really well," DeLano said. "I'm really proud of the way they battled."
Tomlinson's winning kick was the result of a gritty 44-yard drive that ate up almost four minutes of the clock.
The offense for the Bulldogs (2-1) had done little against an aggressive and fast Sterling defense, which scored two touchdowns in the game.
Richard Klaus's 32-yard interception return for a touchdown gave Sterling (2-1) a 7-6 lead with 5 minutes, 4 seconds left in the second quarter.
However, Mike DeFeo answered for Haddonfield on the ensuing kickoff, with an 85-yard touchdown return.
On the first offensive play of the second half, a shotgun snap sailed over the head of Haddonfield quarterback Mike McLaughlin.
Julian Blackshear picked up the ball and waltzed in for a 13-yard score, which tied the game at 13.
Haddonfield 6 7 0 3 – 16
Sterling 0 7 6 0 – 13
H: Henry Klaus 5 run (kick failed)
S: Richard Carter 32 interception return (Taylor kick)
H: Mike DeFeo 85 kickoff return (Tomlinson kick)
S: Julian Blackshear 13 with fumble (kick failed)
H: FG Tomlinson 18
Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysports@phillynews.com.
