Central Bucks South defeated Quakertown in Continental Conference action Friday.
By Scott Huff
Doylestown – Back in the day, legendary Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes (google him) said three things can happen when you pass the football – and two are bad. And it was two awfully bad results if you are a Quakertown fan as Central Bucks West intercepted two passes for touchdowns as the Bucks (6-1, 4-0) remained unbeaten in the SOL Continental Conference with a deceiving 30-10 victory over the Panthers (3-4, 0-3).
“We were fortunate tonight to be able to come up with two picks for touchdowns,” said Central Bucks West head coach Brian Hensel. “Quakertown came in here and gave us a real fight. We had to come together as a team tonight – our defense and special teams had to pick us up.”
The West offense – without the services of game-breaking running back Marvin Todd who sat out the game with an injured ankle - sputtered somewhat against a swarming Quakertown defense. In fact, if you eliminate the scoring by the Bucks on special teams and defense it was a very even statistical game. West gained 120 yards rushing – Quakertown gained 119 yards rushing. West gained 100 yards passing with a touchdown – Q-town passed for 97 yards and a score. West kicked a field goal – Q-town booted a field goal.
However, the difference in the game was an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff by West senior Corey Schott; a 41-yard pass interception for a touchdown by Buddy Zanolini; and a 55-yard pass interception for a touchdown by senior Connor O’Hanlon.
“The mistakes we made with the passing game was the difference in the game,” said Quakertown head coach George Banas. “I thought we followed our game plan pretty well, and we contained them defensively. But we need to play well in all four quarters, and we have to take care of the things we can control during the course of the game.”
Schott – who returned his second touchdown on a kickoff return this season – started the scoring in the game just 11 seconds into the contest with his electric 86-yard scamper on the opening kickoff. Senior Mike Miller added the extra point to give the Bucks a 7-0 lead.
Quakertown, though, countered with a scoring punch of its own. Junior quarterback Alec Vera threw a gorgeous 69-yard scoring aerial to sophomore Kyle Baskin on the very next offensive series for the Panthers. Senior Nick Soriano added the point after touchdown to secure a 7-7 deadlock.
CB West scored midway through the first period to regain the lead. Senior quarterback John Fitz dumped off a bubble screen pass to Joe Ramos who weaved his way through Panther defenders for 34 yards and a touchdown. Miller’s placement gave the Bucks a 14-7 first period lead.
Quakertown scored first in the second period when Soriano split the uprights for a 24-yard field goal. The score sliced the lead to 14-10, but it would prove to be the final points of the game for the Panthers.
The turning point of the game came at the close of the second period. Zanolini stepped in front of a Panther pass and raced 41-yards to pay dirt with just 1:03 left in the half to stretch the West lead to 20-10.
“Grant Udinski did a great job of nailing the quarterback,” said Zanolini. “The pass ended up being a duck, and I just saw the end zone ahead of me. It was my first varsity touchdown.”
“That pick-six before the half really hurt,” said Banas. “It might have been the turning point of the game.”
The first score of the second half iced the win for the Bucks – and it came much like the last score of the first half. This time it was O’Hanlon was took scoring honors for West with a 55-yard pass interception for a score. Miller’s extra point gave the Bucks a 27-10 lead.
“Mark Ciaudelli tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage, and it came right to me,” said O’Hanlon. “Just like Buddy, it was my first varsity touchdown.”
West would add a field goal in the final period – a 30-yard field goal by Miller – to conclude the scoring at 30-10.
“We will celebrate this win tonight, but we start all over again tomorrow to get ready for Hatboro-Horsham next week,” said O’Hanlon. “We are playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
“It was nice to see our defense step up and make some plays tonight,” said Zanolini. “We practice very hard on defense and special teams, and it paid off.”
And those two teams were indeed the difference as West cashed in on a critical conference win over Quakertown.
Quakertown Panthers 7 3 0 0 * 10
Central Bucks West Bucks 14 6 7 3 * 30
CBW: Corey Schott 86 kickoff return (Mike Miller kick)
Q: Kyle Baskin 69 pass from Alec Vera (Nick Soriano kick)
CBW: Joe Ramos 34 pass from John Fitz (Miller kick)
Q: Soriano 24 Field Goal
CBW: Buddy Zanolini 41 interception return (Pass failed)
CBW: Connor O’Hanlon 55 interception return (Miller kick)
CBW: Miller 30 Field Goal
Quakertown Panthers Central Bucks West Bucks
10 First Downs 11
119 Rushing Yards 120
97 Passing Yards 100
216 Total Offense 220
6-34 Punts / Average 4-33
7-65 Penalties / Yards 8-65
Quakertown:
Rushing: Rob Burns 9-62; Alec Vera 11-23; Ryan Heegard 3-18; Matt Stoneback 16-16; Micah Ruch 2-10. Totals – 41-119.
Passing: Vera 8-18-2; 97 yards & touchdown.
Receiving: Brian Cass 2-13; Heegard 2-2; Kyle Baskin 1-69 & TD; Pat SanAngelo 1-5; Mason Schmauder 1-4; Burns 1-4. Totals 8-97 & TD.
Interceptions: Heegard.
Central Bucks West:
Rushing: John Fitz 12-64; Brian Hudicka 9-17; Thalen Sayres 2-21; Mark Ciaudelli 1-18. Totals 24-120.
Passing: Fitz 8-17-1; 100 yards & TD.
Receiving: Corey Schott 2-27; Ciaudelli 2-23; Matt Kilkenny 2-4; Joe Ramos 1-34 & TD; Josh Bazzano 1-12. Totals 8-100 & TD.
Interceptions: Buddy Zanolini (TD); Connor O’Hanlon (TD).
- Log in to post comments
