Harrisburg Dominates Imhotep 34-14

Two teams with great 2017 expectations met at Severance Field in Harrisburg on Saturday. Both Harrisburg and Imhotep Charter came up short in their respective state championship games last year. Both teams returned with tons of talent.  Both teams ere trying to send a statement to the state of PA. Harrisburg’s strong defense and big play offense proved too much for Imhotep.  The Cougars triumphed 33-14 Saturday in Harrisburg.

In a game featuring big time talent, Harrisburg’s Donnell Henriquez and QB Yamir Wilkerson showed why each are the real deal. Henriquez was a two way terror.  2TD catches on offense and 2 takeaways on defense. Wilkerson was on target with four TD passes. The Harrisburg D came up huge all game. The Cougars controlled the line of scrimmage and forced five turnovers.

Both teams started out conservative in a way to ease into the game and the season. Imhotep had many starters getting their first varsity action.  The defenses each played tough in the early going. Mid way through Qtr 1 Harrisburg showed its quick strike capability. Wilkerson hit Shaquon Anderson Butts on a 79 yard TD and it was 7-0 mid way through quarter one.

The ensuing Imhotep drive proved to be the turning point of the game. The Panthers drove the length of the field only to fumble the ball away to Harrisburg near the goal line. The Panthers did not sniff the end zone again until the game was out of hand.

The second quarter was all Harrisburg. Two time-consuming drives resulted in TD’s, one on a a great fingertip grab by Donnell Henriquez.  The other a bursting 22-yard run by Micah Parsons. We went into half with Harrisburg on top 20-0.

The Imhotep offense had more trouble moving the ball starting in the second half. Harrisburg put the final nail in the coffin with a beautiful throw and catch from Wilkerson to Anderson-Butts. Yamir’s fourth TD pass made it 33-0 early in quarter four. A sweet 63 yard pitch and catch to Yusuf Terry and a late TD with the reserves made the final Harrisburg 33 Imhotep 14.

Harrisburg has another emotional and physical test next week at home against a much improved Bishop McDevitt squad. The Panthers face Ben Franklin.