Was Saints’ dramatic victory over Spartans heaven-sent?

Charlie McIntyre caught the pass that gave Wyomissing the lead and brought it within seconds of a third straight trip to the state championship game.

Quaasim Major caught the pass that ended the Spartans’ dream of winning a PIAA championship after two close misses.

Still, it might’ve been Brenda Brown who played the most pivotal role in Neumann-Goretti’s incredible 20-17 victory over Wyomissing Saturday in a Class 3A state semifinal.

She wasn’t at Benjamin L. Johnston Field late in the afternoon as the sun finally peaked out behind the clouds and shone on the Saints, but she was there.

Albie Crosby, the Neumann-Goretti football, felt his late mother’s presence as his team pulled out a miracle finish, scoring with eight seconds left — and just 26 seconds after Wyomissing had taken the lead with a miracle of its own.

The Saints’ coach pointed to the heavens as Major, a senior split end left uncovered as he cut toward the sideline, pulled in a high-arching Mekhi Wharton rainbow inside the 15 and streaked into the end zone.

It was a crushing blow for the Spartans, the top-ranked team in the state and seemingly on a mission to complete a task left unfinished.

Everything seemed to fall into place for them, going all the way back to January when the PIAA did an about-face and granted an appeal that allowed Wyomissing to remain in Class 3A. After a terrific run and all those state playoff victories the past two years Wyomissing was slated, under the PIAA’s “Success Formula,” to move up.

In 4A, many felt, the Spartans wouldn’t have a chance at a state title; they would be unlikely to get out of District 3, what with that juggernaut at Bishop McDevitt, which will play for a PIAA championship Thursday night.

With nemesis Central Valley out of the picture — the two-time 3A champ moved up to 4A because of enrollment increases — the path looked clear for the Spartans.

They had few — really no — challenges through the regular season, steamrolling their competition, including a pair of eventual District 3 champs, Trinity and Cocalico. They won their own district championship game — their fourth straight — by 56 points.

They were cruising last week in the opening round of the state playoffs, jumping up 21-0 over Danville in the first half. For the first time they showed some vulnerability: a couple of fumbles, some botched plays, a missed fourth-down opportunity at the goal line. Their season looked about over when Aaron Johnson lined up for a 32-yard field goal in the final seconds.

It went wide, by mere inches, and the Spartans survived, 21-19.

It appeared they dodged another bullet Saturday when Ben Zechman, the designated “game manager” behind center, showed that his run-dominant team can throw the ball when needed. He zipped a 29-yard pass through heavy traffic and into the arms of Drew Eisenhower, a halfback and safety who made like a split end.

He went up between defenders and pulled down the pass to fuel the comeback; half a minute later the Spartans were celebrating wildly. In a game in which they had been out-played much of the time up front — their forte, what with three Division I linemen — they somehow had the lead.

“I thought we had escaped,” said Spartans coach Bob Wolfrum.

He didn’t know about Brenda Brown. She passed away Nov. 12, the same day Neumann-Goretti won the District 12 championship. It was Crosby’s 100th coaching victory. It was an emotional day: One win, one loss.

Crosby’s players and community rallied around him. The Goretti players wore stickers on their helmets honoring his mother.

Saturday was Brenda Brown’s birthday. That fact, nor the enormity of the Saints’ victory over such an outstanding and well-respected program, was not lost on their coach.

“The last couple weeks have been really difficult for me and my family,” Crosby said. “It’s been an emotional roller coaster.”

Saturday’s game was a wild ride on each sideline. Two tough teams banging on each other throughout. Fourth-down stops. Momentum changes. Three lead changes in the final two minutes. Clutch teams rallying when all seemed lost.

“You go down to Wyomissing with 34 seconds to go . . .” Crosby said.

He didn’t have to say how bleak the picture looked.

“Mom was the one that helped us out.”