Paoletti takes game ‘into my hands,’ Marple Newtown stays unbeaten

NEWTOWN SQUARE — Joe Paoletti had a game for the ages Friday to keep Marple Newtown unbeaten and deliver coach Chris Gicking his 50th career victory.

Paoletti threw a touchdown pass, returned an interception for a score and nearly tallied on a quarterback keeper to lead the Tigers to a 21-14 success over Radnor in a bruising Central League game that wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter.

Paoletti set the tone with a pick-six of Raiders counterpart JP Moreland barely three minutes into the game. He sealed the decision with an interception at the 3-yard line of the Tigers with 3:39 remaining.

“This was actually my first game playing corner,” Paoletti said. “It was second down and long, and I saw it all the way. The second ball was tipped and I just kept my eyes on it.”

The game was tied at the half, two touchdowns apiece.

Moreland, a lefty, lofted a bomb down the left side to Jahmir Dixon, who reached the 2-yard line. That set up the first of two scoring runs by Raiders senior Scott Belveal.

Paoletti followed with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Eric McKee, but the Raiders, with 3:18 left, collected a fumbled punt. Belveal bolted 46 yards on a trap play to tie the game at 14.

“Gavin Holtz opened the hole real nice,” Belveal said. “I was able to skirt right through and get to the sideline and make it happen. We gave it our all. They just outplayed us tonight.”

It looked like the Tigers (4-0) would take the lead again when kicker Jimmy O’Brien lined up a 24-yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter. The Raiders stopped their hosts on what had been first-and-goal at the 5. But the kick was wide and Radnor was pushing the ball up the field when the quarter ended.

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