Brown, Blocked PAT Lift Paraclete, 35-34

In a matchup of top running backs, Curtis Brown of Paraclete High lost the yardage battle but his Spirits won the war.

Brown surpassed 2,000 yards rushing this season, running for 255 yards and four touchdowns in 35 carries to lead Paraclete to a 35-34 victory over Montclair Prep in a Southern Section Division XII quarterfinal game Friday night at Valley College.

Jerome Dennis of Montclair Prep rushed 29 times for 295 and four touchdowns, including a three-yard score with 4:06 to play that pulled the Mounties within 35-34. Joe Martin blocked Robert Lopino’s extra-point attempt to preserve the Spirits’ lead.

Quarterback Rob Fockaert ran eight yards on a bootleg to the Montclair Prep 15-yard line on fourth and six with 23 seconds left, enabling Paraclete (9-3) to run out the clock.

It was the 10th consecutive playoff victory for the two-time defending section champion Spirits, who have beaten Montclair Prep (9-3) three times in the last two years, including twice this season.

Dennis also scored on runs of eight, 67 and 66 yards, the latter giving Montclair Prep a 28-21 lead early in the third quarter.

Paraclete forced a key turnover in the fourth quarter, when Jason Joyce recovered a fumble on a kickoff return by Deron Smith. Five plays later, Brown scored on a one-yard run to give the Spirits a 35-28 lead with 7:46 to play.