Thunder Interrupts Pearl River Football Game

Only thunder could stop the scoring in the Pearl River football team's home opener against Harrison Thursday.

The teams were tied, 14-14, with 6:44 remaining in the second quarter when the game was suspended due to thunder. The teams attempted to wait it out, but the thunder continued to rumble and more dark clouds rolled in with thunderstorms in the forecast, the decision was made to suspend the game at approximately 6 p.m.

The game will pick up where it left off, with Harrison facing a first-and-10 at the Pearl River 15, 3 p.m. Sunday back at Pearl River.

Harrison reached the end zone twice on its first possession, but neither counted. One was called back for a holding penalty and another for an inadvertent whistle. 

The Huskies got another shot after an interception in Pirates' territory and took advantage with Jake Marino's nine-yard touchdown run.

Pearl River marched right back with the help of a 43-yard pass from Chris Van Houten to John Glielmi, but Van Houten's pass on fourth-and-goal from the three fell incomplete. 

Four plays later, Pearl River's defense did the scoring as Ronan Curry scooped up a fumble and raced 38 yards for a touchdown. The missed extra point left the Pirates trialing, 7-6.

Harrison needed just one play to push its advantage to 14-6, with quarterback Brendan Pyne finding Daniel Quinn behind the Pearl River secondary for an 80-yard touchdown.

The Pirates responded again, this time with a seven-play, 76-yard toucdown drive. Pearl River ran the ball every play, including Rob Gullo's tackle-busting, 37-yard touchdown run up the middle. Gullo ran in for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14-14.

On the final play before the game was suspended, Marino broke free from two tacklers in the backfield and raced down the sideline for 62 yards to the Pearl River 15. 

Correction: Pearl River's quarterback is Chris Van Houten.