Special Teams practice paid off for Nativity this week as the Green Wave scored on a 75-yard punt return by senior Kyle Kaledas and a 70- yard kickoff return by senior Brady Morgan to spark a 26-7 win over The Perkiomen School from Pennsburg, Pa.
The Panthers had trouble on special teams all night and allowed many big returns along with the two scores.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Wave put the first points on the board nearly 3 minutes into the 2nd quarter when Kaledas fielded a punt and took it all the way home. On the next possession, Perkiomen drove into Nativity territory, but junior Ryan Searle stepped in front of a pass and intercepted it, but the Wave fumbled on their ensuing snap.
Costly penalties killed the Panthers on their next drive as they drove to the goal line but were pushed back by miscues. Perkiomen School had 17 penalties on the night, helping the Green Wave hold the lead at half 7-0.
On the second-half kickoff, Morgan took a reverse hand off from Kaledas, and Morgan took it to the house giving the Green Wave serious momentum as they took a 14-0.
The Green Wave’s first offensive possession of the second half resulted in a Searle touchdown run for a commanding 20-0 lead in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Wave (2-3) added more points to the board as freshman quarterback Dan Lozada connected with Kaledas for a 42-yard touchdown and a 26-0 lead.
A late score gave the Panthers some hope, but after a Nativity three-and-out, the Panthers drove down the field again. This time Kaledas shut the door as he intercepted a pass in the end zone, clinching the Wave’s victory.
“I was relieved because after the tough loss last week,vwe needed a big win and we got it,” Kaledas said.
On the day Kaledas had two touchdowns – one being a receiving touchdown and the other a punt return. He had six catches for 75 yards and added an interception.
After the game the Green Wave football players sprinted to the Victory Bell and gave it a good ring for the second time this season.
The Green Wave go on the road for the first time all year as they travel to take on Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech. in their first All-American Football Conference game Saturday, Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
