DOYLESTOWN – Jeff Shoolbraid smiled when teammate Devon Passman’s name was mentioned during a post-game interview after Central Bucks East’s 29-6 rout of archrival Central Bucks West on Friday night.
“I do want to say – Devon Passman – it’s just a pleasure playing with the kid,” said Shoolbraid, a mainstay on East’s offensive line. “You can never stop blocking. One minute you think he’s down, and all of a sudden he breaks four tackles. You have to keep blocking with the kid.
“He’s just wonderful to block for. It makes being an offensive lineman that much better. As much as I want to be a glory boy and run the ball, it’s good to know that you can block someone, put them on their back and Devon Passman runs by them and gets in the end zone.”
A play that demonstrated Passman’s ability to make something out of nothing occurred late in the fourth quarter when – with the outcome already decided – the Bucks appeared to have Passman behind the line of scrimmage.
But the Patriots’ senior running back somehow escaped every would-be tackler and turned a potential five-yard loss into a three-yard gain.
“Oh my gosh, he’s a beast,” an East teammate said as he watched in amazement.
Passman, a captain, finished the night with 274 yards and one touchdown in what is becoming a routinely superb showing.
“He’s a pretty remarkable young man,” East coach Tim Michael said. “Devon is a great kid to coach.
“In many ways, he’s a coach on the field. He comes off and gives a lot of feedback about what’s working and what’s not. We’re real fortunate to have him. Devon will take us as far as he can take us.”
Senior captain Nick Miller had just four carries for 25 yards but one of those was for 18 yards and a touchdown that – after Pete Benz’s extra point - put the Patriots on top 10-0 heading into halftime. He also hauled in three passes for 44 yards.
“Nick is a solid player and does an outstanding job on both sides of the ball,” Michael said. “He’ll block all night long, and if you give him a few touches, he’s happy with that.
“Again, like Devon – they do a fantastic job of communicating to us on the sidelines what’s working and what’s not.”
Earlier in the first half, the Patriots took a 3-0 lead after Benz split the uprights on a 40-yard field goal. The Bucks coughed up the football on the ensuing kickoff, and East’s John Veix came out of the pile with the ball on West’s 25-yard line, setting up Miller’s TD run.
By halftime, Passman had 189 yards while the Bucks had just 81 total yards.
“You have to give credit where credit is due,” West coach Chris Felton said. “East did a nice job taking away some of our plays. Passman ran real well. They did a good job.
“They’re a well-coached team.”
Trailing 10-0, the Bucks were still very much in the game when they received the second half’s opening kickoff. Quarterback Ward Udinski found Rashaad Williams coming out of the backfield for an 11-yard gain and a first down, and then Williams – who led the Bucks with 74 yards – carried it 15 yards for another first down.
Another Williams carry – this one for seven yards – put the Bucks in a second-and-short situation, but an illegal block on the next play resulted in a 15-yard penalty, and three plays and another penalty later, the Bucks were punting from deep in their own territory.
It took the Patriots just four plays to get on the scoreboard yet again. The big plays were a 17-yard completion from QB Kyle Bernard to Miller and a nine-yard Passman run. Bernard punched it in from one yard out, and the Patriots led 16-0.
West’s fate was sealed when the Patriots marched 92 yards for a touchdown and a 23-0 lead. The drive culminated with sophomore Justyn White taking it in from two yards out. Other big plays included Bernard finding Miller with a 15-yard strike. The senior quarterback also had a 10-yard run while Passman had carries of 17 and 22 yards.
The Bucks answered with a 64-yard scoring drive that featured a 22-yard run by fullback Ted Conrad as well as a 14-yard Ulanski to Nick Lykon completion. The drive culminated with Ulanski finding Dylan Jacobs for a touchdown with a five-yard pass that made it a 23-6 game.
But the Patriots weren’t finished yet, mounting one last drive – this one a 52-yard drive that included a 31-yard run by White and was capped by Passman taking it in from three yards out for the 29-6 final.
“It’s was a happy sad moment when the (final) buzzer rang – happy that we won and sad that it’s over,” Passman said. “It’s such a long rivalry that you grow up with, and it’s sad that it’s over, but coming out with a win makes it feel a lot better.”
The Patriots upped their record to 3-1 in SOL play (4-3 overall), and they have been coming on strong after a 1-2 start.
“In the beginning of the season, we had a lot of injuries,” Shoolbraid said, pointing to teammate Chris Urban in street clothes. “He’s a captain, and in the offseason, he had knee surgery. He did well in the first scrimmage, and in the second week of camp, he breaks his absence. He’s been a big loss.
“Thus far, this season is dedicated to him because when he comes back it’s (Central Bucks) South. There was a lot to overcome. It’s such a good feeling when you get that first win. It gives you a boost of confidence, and we’ve been keeping it with us.”
Shoolbraid saw his first game action of the season last week, and on Friday night, he made his presence felt as the Patriots controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football on their way to the big win.
“Senior Night against West is unlike any other experience you’ll ever have,” Shoolbraid said. “It’s just an unbelievable feeling playing with kids you grew up with, played Pop Warner with. You’re friends with all the kids.
“No matter what the record – we could be undefeated, and they could have lost every game. They could be undefeated, and we could have lost every game. It’s a brand new season when we played each other. It’s wonderful. It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world.”
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 29, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 6
Central Bucks East 0 10 13 6-29
Central Bucks West 0 0 0 6-6
CBE-Benz 40 field goal
CBE-Miller 18 run (Benz kick)
CBE-Bernard 1 run (kick failed)
CBE-White 2 run (kick failed)
CBW-Jacobs 5 pass from Udinski (kick failed)
CBE-Passman 3 run (kick failed)
CBE CBW
First Downs 19 12
Rushing Yards 348 144
Passing Yards 82 91
Total Yards 430 235
Passing (C-A-I) 5-13-1 10-28-0
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-2
Penalties-Yds. 4-30 8-62
Punts-Avg. 8-23.8 1-32.0
RUSHING:
Central Bucks East – Passman, 29-274, 1 TD; White, 4-38, 1 TD; Miller, 4-25, 1 TD; Bernard, 6-16, 1 TD; Trymbiski, 1-(-5).
Central Bucks West – Williams, 15-74; Conrad, 13-47; Ruane, 1-23; Lykon, 1-6; Houck, 1-1; Udinski, 2-(-4), Giedgowd, 1-(-3).
PASSING:
Central Bucks East – Bernard, 4-12-64, 1 INT; Millar, 1-1, 18.
Central Bucks West – Udinski, 9-23-60, 1 TD; Giedgowd, 1-5-31.
RECEIVING:
Central Bucks East – Miller, 3-44; Harmon, 1-20; Hoy, 1-18.
Central Bucks West – Barbon, 1-31; Williams, 3-25; Lykon, 3-14; Houck, 1-13; Jacobs, 2-8, 1 TD.
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