Murray made Connolly's hunch pay off in one of the all-time classic games in the 117-year history of Salem High School football.
Murray scored the decisive points on a two-point conversion rush in the third overtime, sending the Witches to a thrilling 29-27 victory over a gutty Marblehead team last night at Bertram Field.
The game was the first triple overtime game in the history of the Northeastern Conference.
Marblehead had taken a 27-21 lead in the third overtime period on Nate Ciaramella's 1-yard run on fourth down. But on the Magicians' attempted two-point conversion rush, Salem's Cedric Ashley stepped up and made a huge stop, bringing down Marblehead ballcarrier Nate Smith well short of the goal line.
Salem, which got the ball back and had four downs to go 10 yards (the NEC's adopted overtime format), got nine yards on first down when Murray slashed his way inside the 1-yard line. Sophomore Melikke Van Alstyne scored on the very next play to tie the game for the fourth time, this one at 27-27.
That's when Connolly decided to go with Murray for the conversion that would win the game, and his decision proved to be the right one for the Witches (5-2).
"We had thrown the ball on the try (in the second overtime) and I thought about doing it again. But the way Murray hit that hole for nine yards (prior to Van Alstyne's touchdown) made me think he could do it again," said Connolly, whose team has already equalled its best win total since the 2002 season.
"I had to give Danny the ball there, the way he was running. He came through big time for us."
The loss was a devastating one for the Magicians (2-5), who played Salem nip-and-tuck the entire way but left Bertram Field with nothing to show for their effort - nothing, said head coach Doug Chernovetz, but pride.
"This is the best game I've ever been a part of," said Chernovetz afterwards. "These kids were dying for respect and a win, and we weren't going to be denied. Even though we didn't win, we showed the Northeastern Conference that we can play."
The contest was tied 7-7 after regulation, with both teams scoring in the third quarter. The visiting Magicians scored first when Nate Smith broke the goal line from six yards out and Matt Lincoff kicked the extra point. Marblehead was helped by an Eric Fader sack of Salem quarterback Nick Charlton on the Witches' 5-yard line, which set up a punt for the hosts deep in their own end. Marblehead took over on the Salem 35, benefitted from a 16-yard pass play from QB Dan Evans to Sam Perlow, and cumulated when Smith ran it in.
Salem tied it when senior Cris Chalmers scored on a 2-yard run with 1:18 to play in the third quarter. T.J. Larivee's extra point tied the game.
In overtime, the Witches won the coin toss and elected to let Marblehead try and score first. The Magicians did when Smith took it in from nine yards out on second down, but they missed the extra point.
Salem needed four downs to score on its OT possession, with Van Alstyne (97 yards rushing) blasting his way in. However, Marblehead captain John Wood blocked Larivee's kick, making it 13-13 and sending it into a second extra frame.
This time, Salem had the ball first and scored when Charlton hit a wide open Brent Cicco with a 9-yard pass. Charlton then found Antony Silva all alone in the end zone, giving the hosts a 21-13 lead.
But Marblehead stormed right back as Smith ran 10 yards around left end on first down, and Ciaramella went around the right side for the two-point conversion.
Connolly praised Ashley for his big stop in the third OT session. "He's our emotional leader on both sides of the ball," said the coach. "He's a hard kid to block. He's going to make some college coach very happy."
