Pennridge scored a touchdown with 51 seconds remaining to eke out a 21-20 win over Quakertown. To view action photos of the game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Perkasie - It was a play that Pennridge practiced every single day since the season began in the sweltering heat of August – and it was a play that the Rams never used until the final offensive play of the season. And it worked – boy, did it work - and it was the winning play as Pennridge stunned Quakertown 21-20 on a gorgeous Thanksgiving morning on legendary Poppy Yoder Field.
The game winner was a play-action pass from junior quarterback Alex Krivda to senior James Marrero. Krivda deftly faked a handoff to sophomore sensation Mike Class and floated the pass in the right flat to Marrero. Marrero cradled the ball and dove into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown with just 51 seconds left in the game. Placekicker Zach Midgett would add the extra point to give Pennridge its one and only lead in the game at 21-20.
“It was a great call by Coach Cuthbert,” said Marrero. “We work on that play a lot in practice, and it always seems to work. The whole play was like slow motion, but everyone did a good job, and it worked like it was supposed to work.”
“They were really stacking the box, and we felt that we could run that play action play,” said Krivda, who completed just five passes but for a staggering 153 yards and a pair of scores. “We executed the play as a team – good blocking, a good fake, and a good catch. The team stepped up when we had to make that play.”
“Quakertown really made it difficult for us to run the football,” said Cuthbert. “I felt confident enough in Alex to make those passes. He kept his composure – made some good decisions – and made some good throws.”
Krivda – in addition to the scoring strike to Marrero – completed a clever 67-yard middle screen pass to Marrero to set up the first Ram score. He also fired a magnificent 70-yard scoring strike to Cody Reimel – and followed with a clutch two-point conversion pass to Kyle Bigam – to knot the score at 14-14 going into the final period.
While Pennridge was the author of numerous big plays, Quakertown controlled the line of scrimmage and pounded the Ram defense for the entire game. The stats showed that the Panther offense ran 53 rushing plays for 199 yards – while Pennridge managed just 67 rushing yards on only 23 carries.
“We dominated along the line, and we could have put the game away if we don’t fumble the ball twice on key drives,” said Quakertown head coach George Banas. “But we never give up, and we were able to come back after they tied the game.”
Quakertown took the lead on its first offensive possession of the game. The Panthers marched 66 yards on eight plays for the score. Quarterback Erik Jones fired a 23-yard flanker-screen pass for the touchdown to wide receiver Nick Nagele. Casey Fosbenner – despite poor footing – connected on the PAT to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
Pennridge would score on a drive that began at the end of the first quarter and culminated in the second period on a three-yard touchdown run by Class. Midgett slipped on his foot plant and the PAT failed, and Quakertown held the lead at 7-6.
The Panthers would regain the lead before intermission. Quakertown put together a 10-play march that featured the punishing running of senior Justin Wieder. Wieder –who rushed for a game-high 132 yards on 25 touches - carried the ball six times on this drive for 37 yards. Mike Potynski capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown burst, and Fosbenner’s placement gave the Panthers a 14-6 halftime lead.
Pennridge would knot the score in the third period as the Krivda-to-Reimel 70-yard touchdown connection – coupled with the Krivda-to-Bigam connection for the twin point conversion – would translate to a 14-14 score.
Quakertown, though, refused to go away and came back with the most impressive scoring drive of the contest.
The Panthers punished the Ram defense for a grueling 19-play, 72-yard scoring drive. In this drive alone, Quakertown would have more first downs (six) then Pennridge would have for the entire game (five). Wieder ran the ball eight times in the drive – and also caught a seven-yard pass. Jones, however, earned scoring honors with a quarterback sneak from one yard out. Quakertown converted three third down situations and two fourth down conversions in that drive.
Fosbenner – who has been one of the elite placekickers in the area this season – slipped on the sloppy Poppy Yoder turf and hit the left cross bar on his attempt. The Panthers were forced to settle for a 20-14 lead with 5:01 left in the game – the season – and the career for the seniors playing in the game.
A huge 40-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by junior John Kim gave Pennridge excellent field position to begin what proved to be its game winning drive.
The Rams converted a crucial third down on a run by MacKensie Crawford and converted another key third down on a pass from Krivda to Micah Stutzman. And two running plays – both runs by Class – set up the game winner from Krivda-to-Marrero.
“We practiced that play all year, so there was no reason why I wouldn’t call it,” smiled Cuthbert. “I’m happy that it worked.”
And so were all the ecstatic Pennridge fans that exited Poppy Yoder Field on their way to Thanksgiving dinner.
Quakertown Panthers 7 7 0 6 - 20
Pennridge Rams 0 6 8 7 - 21
Scoring:
Q: Nick Nagele 23 pass from Erik Jones (Casey Fosbenner kick)
P: Mike Class 3 run (kick failed)
Q: Mike Potynski 4 run (Fosbenner kick)
P: Cody Reimel 70 pass from Alex Krivda (Kyle Bigam pass from Krivda)
Q: Jones 1 run (kick failed)
P: James Marrero 8 pass from Krivda (Zach Midgett kick)
Quakertown Pennridge
19 First Downs 5
199 Rushing Yards 67
70 Passing Yards 153
269 Total Offense 220
2-30 Punts / Average 5-32
1- 5 Penalties / Yards 3-30
Quakertown Panthers
Rushing: Justin Wieder 25-132; Mike Potynski 14-45 & TD; Erik Jones 11-19 & TD; Mike Sawyer 2-3; and Ryan Coleman 1-0. Totals 53-199 – 2 TD.
Passing: Erik Jones 6-7-0; 70 yards & TD.
Receiving: Justin Wieder 3-30; Matt Roberts 2-17; Nick Nagele 1-23 & TD.
Interceptions: None
Pennridge Rams
Rushing: Mike Class 15-54 & TD; James Marrero 4-14; MacKensie Crawford 2-6; Alex Krivda 3 (minus 2); and Cody Reimel 2 (minus 5). Totals 26-67 & TD.
Passing: Alex Krivda 5-9-0; 153 yards & 2 TD.
Receiving: James Marrero 3-75 & TD; Cody Reimel 1-70 & TD; and Micah Stutzman 1-8. Totals 5-153 & 2 TD.
Interceptions: None
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