Bedford football couldn't have cut comeback any closer

There appeared to be little chance for the Bedford High School football team to win last Saturday’s semifinal against Merrimack until, all of a sudden, there was.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs trailed 20-7 and were struggling to move the football, with just over two hundred yards of offense and no drive that had gone for more than 49 yards.

Quarterback Connor Robert was just 6 of 17 for 57 yards with an interception and Bedford's lone touchdown came at the end of a possession that started at the Merrimack 17 following an interception.

But when Lucein Mumpini grabbed his third interception of the day, giving Bedford the ball at its own 36 with 9:49 to play, the Bulldogs started showing signs of life.

Robert led the way, as he came out throwing, and on fourth-and-4, hit Noah Chadberek for an 8-yard gain. Three plays later, Robert found Shahrukh Hussain for a 26-yard completion, and on the next play, the junior quarterback scored on a 7-yard run to make it 20-13.

"We were just clicking," Robert said. "The offense just finally came together was one. We've been doing it all year. We've had a few games all year where we've started slow and we get down. We just did our jobs."

At that point, it was up to the Bedford defense to get something done again. The Bulldogs had survived a big offensive day by the Tomahawks by stopping Merrimack on four trips inside the Bedford 25-yard line and forced five turnovers.

But the defense still needed to make one more stop.

"They've been our rock all year," Bedford coach Derek Stank said of the defense. "They are a physical, fast-flowing bunch of football players. They're smart and they love to play defense. They were able to respond when we needed to."

Merrimack put together a 13-play drive that took up 6:11 and included three third-down conversions. Bedford was forced to use all its timeouts, and when the Bulldogs finally forced the ball over on downs, they were on their own 22 with 1:31 remaining.

Bedford quickly picked up two first downs, but an incompletion and a false start left the Bulldogs facing a third-and-11 at their own 48. Robert found Liam Greene - who had all four of his catches on the drive - for a 14-yard gain and a first down to keep the game going.

Facing another third down from the Merrimack 16, Robert hit Chaberek for a 6-yard gain and a first down at the 10 with seven seconds left in the game when the Tomahawks took a timeout.

"We were on our heels a little bit," Merrimack coach Kip Jackson said. "We had zero pressure because of the type of passes that they were throwing. In the first half, we were able to get pressure on them because they were throwing the ball down the field."

Chaberek thought those quick throws were also keeping Merrimack from getting back to full speed after each play.

"It was more the fact that at the beginning we were huddling up, and giving Merrimack's defense, which they're a bunch of athletes, it gave them time to rest," he said. "When we went hurry up, it didn't give their line as much energy. There was less of a pass rush, less pressure."

On first down, Robert tried to go to Chaberek, but the ball was overthrown, leaving 2.9 seconds left on the clock. Bedford again went to the air, with Robert trying to go over the middle to Hussain, but the senior appeared to be interfered with moments before the ball was tipped.

Merrimack was flagged for pass interference and Bedford got one more play, with Robert going back to Chaberek for the touchdown.

"When we were on the final drive, we had to hurry up," Chaberek said. "We didn't have time on the clock because Merrimack did a great job picking up those first downs. We prepare for those scenarios, we practice it. Connor is a great quarterback and he's very poised. Once we were able to throw it down the field, it gave us a lot of momentum."

Robert connected with Chaberek one more time on Bedford's first offensive play in overtime and that proved to be the game winner.

After the slow start, Robert was 16 of 19 for 154 yards and two touchdowns on the Bulldogs' final two drives and overtime.

"Connor is the type of football player, when he's in that situation and the pressure is high, everything is running, he responds," Stank said. "He did a great job spreading the ball out. The offensive line provided protection when we needed it. Going into the overtime, it was just a matter of getting that momentum and energy and using it to get the victory."