The TMP-Marian Monarchs rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit and ran their winning streak to three games to open the season with a 36-21 win over Phillipsburg on Friday night.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, capping a 13-play, 80-yard opening drive with a short touchdown run.
The Monarchs' offense answered, covering 68 yards in four plays as freshman quarterback Austin Liles was a perfect 4-for-4 passing on the drive. He capped the possession with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Nash Dreiling.
With the two-point conversion, the teams were tied at 8 with 28 seconds left in the opening quarter.
The Panthers regained the momentum after a TMP interception, capping a 12-yard touchdown drive with a touchdown run for a 14-8 lead with just under nine minutes left in the first half.
With just over seven minutes left in the first half, the game came to a halt because of lightning in the Phillipsburg area.
After a 30-minute interruption, Phillipsburg kept the momentum, scoring with less than 30 seconds left in the first half to take a 21-8 lead into halftime.
TMP (3-0, 3-0 MCL) opened the second half with the football and drove the length of the field, with Liles connecting with Dreiling for the second time in the game on a 15-yard touchdown pass. The score cut Phillipsburg's lead to 21-15 with just under five minutes left in the third quarter.
Phillipsburg's quarterback fumbled on the Panthers' next drive, and on the very next play, Grant Nehls hauled in a 27-yard pass and took it to the end zone, tying the game at 21. With the extra point, TMP took a 22-21 lead.
Phillipsburg followed with a long kickoff return deep into TMP territory. After two penalties on the Monarchs, the Panthers had a first-and-goal at the 10-yard line, but Jacob Seib intercepted a pass in the end zone on the next play. It was the second Panthers turnover in as many possessions and preserved TMP's one-point lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Monarchs added a pair of touchdowns. The first was a 10-yard touchdown pass to Nehls on fourth down, a little more than halfway through the final quarter, putting TMP ahead 29-21.
Two minutes later, following the Panthers' fourth turnover — a fumble inside their own 30-yard line — Liles found Seib for a 33-yard touchdown pass, and the Monarchs went on to the 36-21 victory.
The Monarchs outgained Phillipsburg 334-178.
Liles finished 16-for-20 for 256 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
Seib finished with eight receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown.
TMP will travel to Plainville next Friday night for its 1A district opener.