In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and a week without school, CB South responded to a short week of practice with a win over CB West on Friday night. To view photos of all the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Central Bucks West versus Central Bucks South
Friday – 7 pm kickoff at Titan Field
The Suburban One League Continental Conference regular season finale for both teams.
Just another scholastic football game – wrong!
Hurricane Sandy pulverized the area Monday night into Tuesday morning and caused destruction in the Central Bucks area. The driving rain and the devastating winds crippled the community with power outages and downed trees that literally left most of Doylestown and the surrounding communities in the dark and impassible.
“We had players shower in the dark at school using flash lights,” said Central Bucks West head coach Brian Hensel. “The kids came to practice without any electricity or hot water in their homes. Some had to stay at home to tend to older grandparents who were hit hard by the storm.
“We simply told the players that they were going to have to overcome some obstacles in getting ready for the game,” added Hensel. “We know that they were going to have to be responsible for clean-up at home, but we also knew that they would come with energy to get ready for the game.”
“Both Brian (Hensel) and I felt that if we could get two practices in this week, we could still go with the game on Friday,” said Central Bucks South head coach Dave Rackovan. “If the NFL can do it - I felt
that we could do it. Actually this late in the season, it gave some of the players a chance to relax and rest their wounds.
“The practices on Wednesday and Thursday were non-mandatory,” continued Rackovan. “I never coached in a situation like this where the kids missed a whole week of school. It was a short week, but I felt that we would be ready to play.”
And those Titans (9-1, 6-1) were indeed ready to play as the CB South defense came up with four turnovers against the Bucks (5-5, 3-4) in a 34-14 Senior Night victory. The Titans will host a PIAA District One playoff game next week.
“Next week is a whole new story for us,” said Central Bucks South senior defensive back Tommy Dibrino who came up with two key interceptions for the Titans. “We have to forget about what we have done so far this year and concentrate on what we have to do next.”
“The playoffs should be exciting,” said Central Bucks South senior quarterback John Pileggi who completed 13 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns. “And like coach Rack(ovan) says, we just have to go out and do what we do.”
What the Titans have done all season is score a lot of points. But on a night when CB West was without starting quarterback Cody Riemenschneider (shoulder injury), it was the CB South defense that took center stage at critical times.
“Our goal is not to have our offense score 57 points every game, our goal is to stop teams on defense,” said Dibrino. “We practice hard every week on defense. Our coaches do a great job in getting us prepared each week.”
The Central Bucks South offense scored on its second possession of the game to take a lead it would never surrender. Pileggi got the ball into game-breaker Josh Adams hands with a short pass, and the talented sophomore did the rest with a breath taking 88-yard scoring jaunt along the Titan sideline.
The Central Bucks South defense scored the next touchdown for the Titans to extend the lead to 14-0. Senior defensive back Steve Veal executed a perfect ‘Pick-6’ with a 30-yard interception return for a score.
Central Bucks West came back to make it a game with a 15-play drive that covered 70 yards for a touchdown. Highlighted in the drive was a 24-yard pass from junior quarterback John Fitz to junior wide receiver Corey Schott. Fitz – who finished the night with 19 completions for 196 yards in relief on Riemenschneider – capped the drive with a one-yard run. Mike Miller added the first of his two successful placements.
Central Bucks South would assure a 20-7 halftime lead as Pileggi fired a 10-yard scoring pa
ss to Cole Mosher with just seven seconds remaining in the second period. The scoring play culminated a 10-play drive that covered 65 yards.
Central Bucks West, though, refused to go away and closed to within 20-14 in the third period. The Bucks scored on an 18-play drive that covered 80 yards. Fitz again capped the scoring drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak for a score on fourth down. Sherrod Higginbotham – who rushed for 111 yards on 22 carries – collected some key yards in the scoring drive.
Central Bucks South would put the game away with a 14-point fourth period.
Veal – who caught five passes for 85 yards – scored on a gorgeous 28-yard scoring pass from Pileggi. Adams would add the 2-point conversion to stretch the Titan lead to 28-14.
Adams – who rushed for a game-high 170 yards on 26 carries – put the game out of reach with an electrifying 53-yard touchdown gallop. Adams finished the game with 279 yards of total offense.
“We have some weapons on offense both running the ball and catching the ball,” said Pileggi. “And it was great to be able to beat our (intra-district) rival on the last (regular) season game. We beat both CB East and CB West this year, so I guess that means we win the CB Cup. Is there a CB Cup?
“Now we get a chance to move on to the playoffs,” added Pileggi. “This was one crazy week with the weather.”
It was one wild week indeed.
Central Bucks West Bucks 0 7 7 0 - 14
Central Bucks South Titans 7 13 0 14 - 34
CBS: Josh Adams 88 pass from John Pileggi (Evan Stahl kick)
CBS: Steve Veal 30 interception return (Stahl kick)
CBW: John Fitz 1 run (Mike Miller kick)
CBS: Cale Mosher 10 pass from Pileggi (kick failed)
CBW: Fitz 1 run (Miller kick)
CBS: Veal 28 pass from Pileggi (Adams run)
CBS: Adams 53 run (kick failed)
Central Bucks West Bucks Central Bucks South Titans
16 First Downs 18
111 Yards Rushing 161
196 Yards Passing 255
307 Total Offense 416
4-35 Punts /Average 3-35
3-35 Penalties / Yards 8-75
CB West:
Rushing: Sherrod Higginbotham 22-111; John Fitz 16-0 & 2 TD. Totals 38-111.
Passing: John Fitz 19-32-3; 196 yards.
Receiving: Corey Schott 6-75; Mark Ciaudelli 5-57; Kurt Logan 3-39; Higginbotham 3-14; and Garrett Godshall 2-11. Totals 19-196.
CB South:
Rushing: Josh Adams 26-170-TD; Bobby Mallon 2-6; John Pileggi 1-6; Team 1-(minus 21). Totals 30-161-TD.
Passing: John Pileggi 13-21-0; 255 yards & 3 TD.
Receiving: Steve Veal 5-85 & TD; Cale Mosher 3-41 & TD; Josh Adams 2-109 & TD; Paul Weeks 2-15; Bobby Mallon 1-5. Totals 13-255 & 3 TD.
Interceptions: Tommy Dibrino (2); Steve Veal (TD).
- Log in to post comments
