Last week Marple Newtown didn’t score a point at home against Upper Darby, 25-0. The Marple Newtown Tigers knew it wasn’t going to get much easier playing against an undefeated Garnet Valley Jaguar team if they had the same performance as last week. Their goal was to get on the score board first; and that’s what they did, ending their scoring drought. Junior running back Cimirrow Moat found a running lane and rushed for a 60 yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 6-0.
After the early touchdown by the Tigers, the Jaguars answered back, not once, but twice. With injuries in the backfield for the Jaguars senior running back Thomas Obi-Tabot stepped up and ran for a total of 86 yards. Garnet Valley’s Head Coach, Mike Ricci said, “We knew he (Obi-Tabot) was ready and all he needed was an opportunity and he got it tonight, he did a great job.” Obi-Tabot scored early in the first quarter on a one yard touchdown run. On second down and fourteen yards to go on the Tigers fourteen yard line senior quarterback Jake Helmes threw a screen pass to Obi-Tabot and he scored again; back to back to put the Jaguars ahead, 14-6. Obi-Tabot described the play and said, “I didn’t think I was going to get into the end zone for a certain point of time (on the fourteen yard screen pass touchdown) but I just lowered my head and saw a guy there, but scored”
Jake Helmes threw again, this time deep down the field and junior wide receiver Andrew DePietro caught the over the shoulder catch and ran into the end zone for a 75 yard touchdown with 3:13 to go in the first half as the Jaguars extended their lead, 28-13. Helmes would finish the game throwing for 150 yards. “That was a crucial play, we really needed that. The play just opened up; we went through that play all week at practice and we executed it perfectly” said Helmes.
There were a lot of long runs. Right before halftime Tigers senior running back Ryan White scored on a 69 yard touchdown run. After some long runs Tigers junior quarterback decided to go to the air. Jamie Ridinger on third down and thirteen yards to go on the nineteen yard line threw into the end zone and the pass was brought down by Ryan White. The game got even more interesting as the Tigers tied up the score after Ridinger threw to Mario Dioguardi to convert the two point conversion.
With 10:13 to go in the fourth quarter on their own nine yard line the Jaguars once again put together a winning march down the field. In an almost eight minute drive the Jaguars used Keyser, Obi-Tabot, and Helmes to march down the field and win the game. Garnet Valley’s Head Coach, Mike Ricci said, “Our offense has been executed well all year and that was another time we did that. Jake does a great job leading the troops out there, and we’ve done a really good job of consistently putting together long drives.”
Obi-Tabot scored the game winning touchdown on a two yard carry. Obi Tabot said, “Really it was all the offensive line, the offensive line was carrying me on their back, instead of me carrying them on mine.”
Marple Newtown gave Garnet Valley a very tough test and almost tied the game again. On fourth down and eight yards to go with just forty seconds left in the game on the 25 yard line, White who ran for a total of 86 yards, came up short of the first down and the Tigers came oh so close to beating the undefeated Jags.
Marple Newtown will have another tough test next week on the road against Strath Haven at 7:30pm. The Garnet Valley Jaguars stay home for a second week in a row and will host Upper Darby, a team that is on a three game winning streak at 7:00pm on Friday night.
