Central Bucks West defeated CB East & Bensalem downed CR North in SOL football action Saturday. Check the recaps. CB West/CB East photos courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of action photos…CLICK HERE to go directly to the FOOTBALL GALLERY.
Stats used in the wraps are provided courtesy of the Intelligencer/Bucks County Courier. For complete high school football coverage, visit the web sites: http://www.theintell.com/sports/high-school/fall/football/ and http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports/high-school/fall/football/
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 14, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 13
They’re be talking about this game for a long, long time.
In a contest that had all kinds of twists and turns, the Patriots – trailing by one and appearing to be down for the count – recovered a fumble on the Bucks’ 30-yard line. Three plays later and with 14 seconds remaining in regulation, they lined up for a 24-yard field to win it. The low kick never had a chance, and the Bucks escaped with the emotional win.
“We wouldn’t want to have it any other way against East,” West coach Chas Cathers said. “I told the kids after the game – the rivalry, there’s a long history of games, and this one is going down as one of the greater games.
“I just had confidence in our kids, and they fought for four quarters again, just like they did at (Central Bucks) South. I felt pretty confident about our special teams because we really spent a lot of time this week working on them and getting their confidence back. Our kids came out – they fought, and we ended up on top, which is always a good thing.”
The dramatic win came on the heels of a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Central Bucks South that saw an extra point for the tie blocked in the closing seconds.
“Our kids did a great job bouncing back,” Cathers said. “It was a heartbreaker last week, but you never really have to give them much motivation going into East week.
“We talked to the kids after the South game and told them that we just had to continue doing what we do as far as just getting better as a team and working on the things we need to work on and focusing on the positives and fixing the things we needed to fix. They did a great job getting focused. (We have) a 24-hour rule – they had 24 hours to be upset and to be sad, but after that, it was time to get focused and prepare for East.”
The Patriots got on the scoreboard first when quarterback Evan O’Donnell found Patrick Volko for a 33-yard touchdown. A huge return by Richardo Washington off the ensuing kickoff set the stage for a one-yard Jake Reichwein touchdown and a 7-7 score after one quarter.
“Ricardo Washington had a really nice kickoff return that took us down to the one-yard line,” Cathers said. “That was a huge play.
“It really came down to special teams – that return was huge by Ricardo, and it set us up, and (kicker) Clarke Bittner – I was worried about where his head was, and we put complete confidence in him, and he came out and punched two extra points, which was huge.”
The Bucks took a 14-7 lead when sophomore Jack Neri returned a fumble two yards for a touchdown.
“Luke Benson came off the edge as a D-end and made the sack and stripped it and then Jack Neri – who has been really a ball hawk for us was able to score his second defensive touchdown of the year, which was pretty remarkable,” Cathers said. “He’s done a great job for us.”
The Patriots – who were without kicker Mike Smigley – capitalized on a turnover to score a touchdown, but the failed extra point allowed the Bucks to maintain a one-point lead that held until the final whistle.
“We like to focus on one game at a time, but we stressed all week – we could be 0-8 going into East, and if we beat East, that makes our season,” Cathers said. “It’s like a game in itself. When you look at the schedule, you always have East circled.
“We just wanted to focus on doing our best and preparing our kids so that we could come out on top. I’m super proud of our guys.
“It was a great atmosphere, and I’m really proud of the work our kids put in. They deserve it – our seniors deserve it, our team deserves it. They’ve been working really hard, and they’ve done nothing but buy into what the coaching staff is doing. I’m really proud and really happy for them.”
Josh Crecca threw for 168 yards to lead the Bucks’ offense. For the Patriots, O’Donnell threw for 158 yards and a touchdown. Chris Lochetta had 10 catches for 78 yards.
There were plenty of bumps and bruises on both sides after this one. Freshman Anthony Giordano entered the game when O’Donnell was sidelined. West senior Jake Reichwein was wearing a sling when it was over.
“We pride ourselves in playing aggressive football,” Cathers said. “It’s something we expect out of our kids – to play physically tough and mentally strong. It was definitely a physical battle. Jake got beat up a little bit, but I’m confident he will bounce back and be healthy. We have to take what’s left of the weekend to recover and get back to work on Monday.”
Central Bucks West (6-3, 2-3 SOL) will host Souderton in its regular season finale on Friday, and Central Bucks East (4-5, 2-3) will be on the road at Pennridge Friday.
Central Bucks West 7-7-0-0 14
Central Bucks East 7-0-6-0 13
BENSALEM 42, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 14
The visiting Owls brought a welcome end to a four-game losing streak with a no-doubt-about-it win over the Indians.”
“We needed one bad,” coach Ed Cubbage said. “This does a lot of things for us. One, obviously, we kind of get out of our funk a little bit, and two, it makes next week a pretty exciting week because we’re still alive for a playoff spot.”
The Owls’ four-game losing streak came on the heels of four straight wins to open the season.
“It was tough,” Cubbage said of the four-game skid. “Kids feel bad – they’re upset, the coaches are upset. It’s a matter of getting everyone refocused and an eye on the prize and that we still basically, at the end of the day, control our own destiny.
“This win will make this week a whole lot of fun for us.”
If the Owls needed a jumpstart, they got one when quarterback Drasaun Moore hooked up with Keith Parrish, who took it to the house from 67 yards out for the game’s first score.
“The first touchdown by Keith Parrish – it’s Keith being Keith,” Cubbage said. “He’s so electric, he’s such a great athlete.
“It was a 67-yard technically a pass completion, but the ball was thrown directly to the side. He weaved his way pretty much through the entire defense.”
Parrish found the end zone from 14 yards out, and the Owls led 14-0 after one quarter. Jared O’Connell’s nine-yard touchdown run gave the Owls a three-touchdown lead before the Indians – thanks to a five-yard touchdown run by Michael Welde – got on the scoreboard.
Parrish’s third touchdown of the opening half sent the Owls into halftime with a 28-7 lead. Parrish and Moore both added TDs in the second half,
“It was a total team effort,” Cubbage said. “Not only did we do well on offense and defense, we also dominated on special teams, and when you have all three phases like that working, it’s a pretty good day.”
The Owls accumulated more than 400 total yards with Moore leading the charge. The Bensalem QB completed 4-of-6 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 114 yards and one touchdown on nine carries.
“My quarterback, Drasaun Moore, had a great day today,” Cubbage said.
Parrish also had a huge day, rushing for 77 yards and two touchdowns and turning three receptions into 136 yards and two touchdowns.
For the Indians, Welde had a monster day of his own, rushing for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.
Cubbage pointed to the effort of several other players as key to the win.
“Vince Citrino, our offensive lineman up front, had a great day,” the Owls’ coach said. “On defense, Elijah Jackson, had a great day, and as usual Jared O’Connell was himself, going back and forth from offense to defense. He played some safety for us today. I don’t think he’s played much this year, but he played a lot today because we’re trying to rest Keith (Parrish) a little bit, so he went in at safety. Again, it’s just Jared being Jared – he can play any position on the field.”
Bensalem (5-4, 2-3 SOL) will host Harry S Truman in a high stakes game next Friday. A potential berth in the District One 6A Tournament could be riding on the line for the Owls, who are 19th in the latest District One 6A power rankings. Sixteen teams will earn berths.
“Basically, we’re going to treat it as if it is a playoff game – we have to win for a chance of advancing,” Cubbage said. “We’ll know more tomorrow with the point situation, but what we know right now is if we don’t win next Friday, we have no chance. It’s win or go home.”
Council Rock North (1-8, 0-5) will play Council Rock South Friday.
Bensalem 14-14-0-14 42
Council Rock North 0-7-0-7 14
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