Delsea triumphs on late field goal

Most Delsea victories come courtesy of a bruising rushing attack.

This one was different.

This one was special.

The Crusaders ran the football with authority Friday night in a West Jersey Football League battle of unbeatens at Camden Catholic. They played their typical sturdy defense, too.

But special teams made all the difference as Delsea, the No. 5 team in The Inquirer Top 10, emerged with a dramatic 17-14 victory over No. 9 Camden Catholic on a blustery night at Shamrock Field.

Delsea senior Frank Freijomil capped the Crusaders' comeback with a 37-yard field goal on the game's final play.

"That's the first field goal I ever made," Freijomil said. "It's a memorable one."

Freijomil's kick ended a seven-play, 32-yard drive that began at the Delsea 48-yard line with 1 minute, 14 seconds on the clock. Led by senior quarterback Tyler Coulbourn (11 carries, 109 yards and a touchdown), the Crusaders marched to the Camden Catholic 20.

The drive came at the end of a tense fourth period in which Delsea took advantage of a 59-yard punt by Darius Convery to change field position.

The Crusaders also received a boost from the stiff wind that was at their backs.

"I wasn't even thinking about the wind," Freijomil said. "I just wanted to kick it like it was an extra point."

Delsea (6-0) has won 23 of its last 25 games by running its Wing-T offense, wearing down opponents with powerful line play and bruising backs. The Crusaders don't deviate from their winning formula.

But they got a big touchdown pass earlier in the fourth quarter, as Coulbourn hit Oobie Pittman in the left flat on fourth-and-5 and the junior running back went 12 yards for a touchdown. Freijomil's second extra point tied the game at 14.

Camden Catholic (4-1) played strong defense, and the Irish twice took the lead. But Delsea has a knack for finding a way to win.

On this night, it was thanks to the strong left leg of a converted soccer player.

Freijomil never played football before last season. He missed his only field-goal attempt in 2009.

He got the chance to live a football kicker's dream after Delsea called its final timeout with 0:02 on the clock.

"As soon as I ran on the field, I took a deep breath and I didn't hear anything," Freijomil said.

"The snap was perfect, the hold was perfect, and the kick was right there."

Delsea   0 0 7 10 – 17

Camden Catholic   0 6 8 0 – 14

CC: Jarred Alwan 3 run (kick failed)

D: Tyler Coulbourn 40 run (Frank Freijomil kick)

CC: Mike Kiely 21 pass from Anthony Townsend (Tom Wescott pass from Townsend)

D: Oobie Pittman 12 pass from Coulbourn (Freijomil kick)

D: FG Freijomil 37