From the first whistle, Mackert was a key threat in Providence’s offense. He punched in a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter, helping the Celtics build early momentum.
But the moment that will be talked about for a while came late in the fourth quarter. The Celtics faced a fourth-and-inches deep in their own territory with about 7:18 left on the clock. Instead of playing it safe, Mackert took the handoff, burst through the gap, broke a tackle, and sprinted 81 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. That run effectively sealed the game for Providence, putting them ahead 28–14.
By the final whistle, his stat line was one for the highlight reel:
- 19 carries,
- 200 rushing yards (he racked up 112 yards before halftime alone)
- 2 touchdowns
In his own words, Mackert said that even though the team only needed the yard, “I knew I was getting that yard.” He also noted how meaningful the game was after having his previous season cut short. Shaw Local
