Andover Football fought its way to claim the title of New England Champions with a 35-28 comeback win over Brunswick in this year’s Jack Etter Bowl.
Facing the biggest deficit it had seen all season, Andover was down 21-6 at halftime. A Brunswick interception and touchdown later, Andover was down 28-6.
Ryder Stone ’14 opened the scoring for Andover again and brought the score to 28-12 going into the fourth and final quarter of the season.
Z.GALLAGHER/_THE PHILLIPIAN_
With the newly acquired momentum, quarterback Ian Maag ’14 ran the ball in for a touchdown and scored the two-point conversion.
The comeback looked broken when Brunswick found itself in the end zone but the play was called back and the score stayed at 28-20.
Stone added to his tally with another touchdown and tied up the game, silencing the sea of Brunswick fans.
Finally, with 2:45 left of the season and on its own 34 yard line, Andover took the lead as Matthew Rusk-Kosa ’14 brought in a 66-yard pass to put Andover up 35-28.
Brunswick fought for a comeback and made it as far as Andover’s 25 yard line. Brandon Michel ’14, however, stopped it in its tracks on defense with three blocked passes.
Taking possession again with 1:21 left in the game, Andover counted down the seconds until its victory was final.
Tweets from New England Championships!
> PAFB: Andover down 21-6 to Brunswick at half
>
> — Phillipian Sports (@PhillipianSprts) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/PhillipianSprts/statuses/401787751550693376)> PAFB: 28-12 Brunswick heading into the 4th quarter. Andover with possession — Phillipian Sports (@PhillipianSprts) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/PhillipianSprts/statuses/401797316530941952)
> PAFB: Ian Maag ’14 rushes for a TD! 28-20 with Andover buildings momentum! [@IanSwaag7](https://twitter.com/IanSwaag7)
>
> — Phillipian Sports (@PhillipianSprts) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/PhillipianSprts/statuses/401798034839044096)> PAFB: Andover ties up the game at 28-28 on a Ryder Stone ’14 TD! — Phillipian Sports (@PhillipianSprts) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/PhillipianSprts/statuses/401803766980415488)
> 245 left in the 4th. Score is 35-28. Andover.
>
> — Jennifer Savino (@AndvrAlumni) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/AndvrAlumni/statuses/401804630419841024)> Congratulations to the 2013 NEPSAC football champions [@phillipsacademy](https://twitter.com/phillipsacademy) Andover! [@PhillipianSprts](https://twitter.com/PhillipianSprts) [@AndoverAthlete](https://twitter.com/AndoverAthlete) [#GoBlue](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GoBlue&src=hash) [#undefeated](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23undefeated&src=hash) — Vivien Mallick (@Admissions01810) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/Admissions01810/statuses/401808273701339136)
> Congrats Football! 9-0! Amazing season! [#undefeated](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23undefeated&src=hash) [#proudtobeBigBlue](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23proudtobeBigBlue&src=hash)
>
> — Andover Athletics (@AndoverAthlete) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/AndoverAthlete/statuses/401808630309466112)> so proud right now [#bleedblue](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23bleedblue&src=hash) [#comebackofthecentury](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23comebackofthecentury&src=hash) [#nepsacchamps](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23nepsacchamps&src=hash) — Greg Cameron (@gcameron5) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/gcameron5/statuses/401808624550285313)
> We won. We won. We won!!!!!!!!!
>
> — Jennifer Savino (@AndvrAlumni) [November 16, 2013](https://twitter.com/AndvrAlumni/statuses/401807516839211008)
