Quakertown scored a late touchdown to defeat Pennridge 8-7 on Thursday. To view photos of the game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
QUAKERTOWN– Please raise your right hand and repeat after me – Quakertown is a better football team than Pennridge.
“There were a lot of doubters out there – I get that,” smiled Quakertown head coach George Banas after his Panthers (11-2) captured a hard-fought 8-7 victory over visiting Pennridge (7-5). “We beat them in the first round of districts (14-10) in what might be the biggest win in the history of Quakertown football, and still most people in the media still felt that Pennridge was the better football team. But people just don’t know the grit that Quakertown football players play with.”
That grit was on display before an overflow crowd at a snow-rimmed Alumni Field. It was the 85th meeting between the archrival Panthers and the Rams on Thanksgiving morning.
“Beating Pennridge twice in the same season is something that you really can’t put into words,” said Banas. “It was a huge win.”
“These are two really tough losses for us,” said Pennridge head coach Jeff Hollenbach. “I thought our defense played great – and Quakertown played great defense as well. It was a defensive struggle the entire game.”
The focal points for both the Quakertown defense and the Pennridge defense was the superlative play of their inside linebackers – senior Hunter Nice for the Panthers and senior Zack Hockman for the Rams.
“We have played some great football teams this year, and we have played against some great linebackers,” said Hollenbach. “But Hunter Nice is at the top of the list.”
“Hunter has a phenomenal nose for the football,” said Banas. “He is one player that we can never really replace.
“And I thought that Hockman was outstanding for them,” added Banas. “He had some hits out there – I don’t know how are kids were able to get up.”
Both Nice and Hockman were in the spotlight in the first period. Quakertown – which featured a 23-yard run by Nick Bonomo – had a first-and-goal from the Pennridge four-yard line. Four Panther plays netted just three yards and Hockman came up with two huge tackles on the sequence to keep Q-town out of the end zone.
The Panthers were able to cash in on the great field position – and it was Nice that cashed the check. On first-and-ten, wildcat Pennridge quarterback Joe Unangst was tackled in the end zone by a blitzing Nice for a safety to present the Panthers with a 2-0 lead.
“I was unblocked on the play,” said Nice. “I just reacted – and it was an awesome feeling to be able bring him down there.”
Unangst – who rumbled for 231 rushing yards for Pennridge in the playoff loss – was held to just 61 rushing yards in this game. He split time running from a wildcat quarterback position and his normal backfield position.
“We really sold out to try and take him away,” said Banas as the Panthers limited Pennridge to a meager 158 yards of total offense. “Our goal was to stop him and have someone else beat us. He was clearly their best player – and he hurt us in the first game.”
“We have a lot better offense then we showed today, we could not sustain any drives,” said Hollenbach. “But Quakertown’s defense had a lot to do with that.”
Pennridge would take the lead in the third quarter by scoring a special teams touchdown. Junior Matt Firuta cradled the second half kickoff at the 18-yard line and scampered down the Panther sideline for an 82-yard touchdown return. Ethan Aigeldinger added the extra point, and the Rams led 7-2.
Quakertown would have a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line in the third period – but four plays netted only five yards as the Panthers were again turned away. An amazing third goal line stand by the Rams came at the outset of the fourth period when a first-and-goal resulted in four downs and a net of minus two yards.
“It seemed like their goal line was unbreakable,” said Banas. “I thought the only way we were going to score is if the defense scored.”
He wasn’t far from wrong.
Pennridge had the ball third-and-17 on its own 21-yard line when a pass was tipped into the hands of Quakertown’s Jon Potynski at the 40-yard line. Potynski returned the ball to the Ram 15-yard line.
Quakertown was faced with a critical fourth-and-three from the PHS eight-yard line. Quarterback Alec Vera ran a quarterback draw that gained six yards and a first down on the two-yard line. This time, Vera would score two plays later on a quarterback sneak from the one-yard line.
The Quakertown defense – with a key play on a fourth down by senior Micah Jones – sealed the win for the Panthers.
“I really can’t express how awesome this feels right now to beat Pennridge,” said Nice. “There isn’t anyone who can say that we aren’t the better football team now.”
Repeat after Hunter Nice – Quakertown is the better team.
Pennridge Rams 0 0 7 0 * 7
Quakertown Panthers 2 0 0 6 * 8
Q: Hunter Nice tackles Pennridge ball carrier in end zone
P: Matt Firuta 82-yard kick off return (Ethan Aigeldinger kick)
Q: Alec Vera 1 run (pass failed)
Pennridge Rams Quakertown Panthers
8 First Downs 11
83 Rushing Yards 154
75 Passing Yards 22
158 Total Offense 176
6-44 Yards / Penalties 4-40
4-16 Punts / Average 4-45
Pennridge
Rushing: Joe Unangst 19-61; Imier Simmons 4-27; Judens Desrosiers 2-5; Matt Firuta 2-3; Mat Kraynik 2 (minus 13). Totals 29-83.
Passing: Joe Unangst 3-6-1; 52 yards & Matt Kraynik 1-4-0; 23 yards. Totals 4-10-1; 75 yards.
Receiving: Imier Simmons 1-44; Joe Unangst 1-23; Jordan Garis 1-6; Matt Firuta 1-2. Totals 4-75.
Quakertown
Rushing: Rob Burns 19-99; Nick Bonomo 14-48; Tyler Kishbaugh 1-6; Alec Vera 11-1 & TD; Hunter Nice 1-0. Totals 46-154 & TD.
Passing: Alec Vera 1-9-0; 9 yards & Tom Garlick 1-1-0; 13 yards. Totals 2-10-0; 22 yards.
Receiving: Alec Vera 1-13; and Nick Bonomo 1-9. Totals 2-22.
Interceptions: Jon Potynski.
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