Jesse Signa spent his junior year as a spectator on the St. Anthony’s sideline, watching Maryland-bound kicker Nick Ferrara help lead the Friars to the CHSFL Class AAA title game.
“Playing behind Ferrara really stunk last year,” Signa said.
Signa’s senior year? That’s a different story.
Signa booted three field goals yesterday, including the game-winning 35-yarder as time expired, to lift the Friars to a thrilling 30-28 win against Holy Cross at Bayside Athletic Field.
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound Signa was mobbed by teammates in a wild celebration as the Friars rallied late after Holy Cross turned a 24-14 halftime deficit into a 28-24 lead late in the third quarter.
Signa, who earlier booted a pair of 36-yarders, didn’t even watch the biggest kick of his high-school career go through the uprights.
“I didn’t even look up,” he said. “As soon as I kicked it, I felt I hit it perfectly.”
St. Anthony’s coach Rich Reichert wasn’t worried. After all, Signa kicked a 62-yarder in practice.
“He’s as good as we’ve had,” Reichert said. “He’s an outstanding, very underrated kid that’s going to scholarship somewhere.”
Early on it looked as if St. Anthony’s (6-1, 5-1 CHSFL) would cruise to another easy win as senior quarterback Tommy Schreiber rushed for a 72-yard touchdown on the third play from scrimmage. Schreiber also scored on a 35-yard run to put the Friars in front 21-7 midway through the second quarter.
But led by senior quarterback Dean Marlowe and junior wide receiver Devon Cajuste, Cross (5-2, 4-2) roared back. Cajuste scored on a 33-yard sweep and Marlowe ran up the gut for a 7-yard TD to put the Knights in front, 28-24, with 3:40 left in the third.
Signa, though, ended any thoughts of an upset with two field goals in the final four minutes.
