Bynoe’s 20-yard boot tops Wilmington, 17-14

Published in the October 5, 2018 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—After a forty-eight minute grudge match, Melrose senior kicker Kemar Bynoe lined up for a field goal with just five seconds left to break open a 14-14 tie and lift Melrose to their third victory of the season. With the pressure on, Bynoe prevailed; his 19-yard game-winning kick had fans on their feet and players jumping on the field. And it improved Melrose to 3-1 which ties them in first place in the Middlesex Freedom Division with undefeated Stoneham, a team they face tonight on the road.

“It was a good win,” said Melrose coach Tim Morris after the game. “Wilmington is a tough team with sound defense and they will always come at you. We made some mistakes, but the biggest thing was that a lot of guys stepped up and played all four quarters. I was happy with our defensive efforts—a lot things had to go right for Kemar to make it and I knew he’s make it if the team got the ball down.” 

Wilmington came into the game with a stingy defense that had limited opponents’ touchdowns,  and they managed to shut down Melrose running back Kevin Peete. That prompted Melrose quarterback Jesse Gardner to use his air game. The junior was very solid over the night (11-15, 158 yards, 1 INT) and he launched an impressive two-minute drill with a series of passes that set Bynoe up at the field goal line.

KEMAR BYNOE’S game-winning 20 yard field goal with five seconds left clinched victory for Melrose over Wilmington, 17-14. (Donna Larsson photo)

“I think Jesse grew up a lot in that last drive,” says Morris. “He executed well and was able to hit Kevin [Peete], Brendan [Maher]. And I think our pass protection was solid and overall the team did a great lining up that kick.” 

Melrose Chris Cusolito was hard to nail down for Wilmington and sure enough, he scored Melrose’s second touchdown and finished with 4 pass completions, 65 rushing yards and a pass break up in the end zone. 

The Red Raiders had pounced the Wildcats on their first possession of the game, when Cusolito recovered an onside kick all the way into the end zone until it was ruled dead. But Melrose instead started on the 48 and benefited from a Jessie Gardner pass to Cusolito, some rushes by Kevin Peete and a huge 33-yard pass to Billy Pesce who hauled the ball nearly to the end zone before being taken down.

Says Morris of Pesce. “He had his best game of the year. He does so much on offense and always contributes with blocking. He’s been outstanding.”

One play later, Gardner scored on a 1-yard keeper and with a good kick from Kemar Bynoe, it was 7-0 Melrose just minutes into the game.

Melrose and Wilmington’s both were forced to punt on their next possessions. And early in the second quarter, when Melrose punted from the 49, it was blocked by Wilmington’s Joseph DeMonico who returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. It was a 7-7 game with 10:50 left in the second.

Melrose scored shortly before halftime on a 7-play drive launched by Chris Cusolito who ran for 11-yards into the end zone with 6:00 left in the half to take a 14-7 lead, a score they would take into halftime.

In the third, Melrose defense had their hands full and they held the Wildcats at the goal line thanks to tackles by Billy Pesce and Peter Lewis. But Wilmington evened up the game in the fourth quarter when Peter Marino scored a touchdown with 9:23 left in the game. 

Wilmington nearly stole the game when Stephen Anthony intercepted a Gardner pass and returned it 15 yards to the Red Raiders’ 22. But a giant sack by Peter Lewis helped prompt a fourth and 32 that left the Wildcats forced to punt. 

With two minutes to go, Melrose went into a hurry-up offense, starting their campaign from their own 13. Gardner passed the ball to Cusolito on the 26, then to Brendan Maher on the 47, with 1:20 to go. Gardner connected with Cusolito on a monster 30-yard pass to the 17-yard line, followed by a pass to Kevin Peete on the seven. Billy Pesce nearly won the a game with a 5-yard scamper into the end zone but fell shy by 2 yards. And with 5 seconds left it was time to call out the kicking team. The rest was history. 

Tonight, Melrose travels to Spartan territory to face undefeated Stoneham (see accompanying story) in what could determine the fate of the Middlesex Freedom League. “Every week is a new week,” says Morris. “Stoneham is a tough, run-orientated offense with three good backs, so it’s going to be important to score early, capitalize on each possession and maintain ball control.”

Action starts at 7:30 at Stoneham High.