LEVITTOWN – Cheltenham Head Coach Ryan Nase and Harry S. Truman Head Man Ben Johnson both had interesting stories on what it took to get their teams on the field Friday night. From limited training time, running practices in parking lots, to countless hours of virtual coaching, these teams, staffs, and administrators deserve tons of credit to make this spring football season a reality. It finally came down to putting everything out on the field. After a quarter and a half shaking off the rust, both teams turned this game into a wild west shoot-out. And when the dust settled, Harry S. Truman (1-0) made just enough plays to earn a 34-28 win over Cheltenham (0-1).
Senior Sincere Thomas had a stellar performance for Harry S. Truman. Thomas ran through and past the Panthers’ D for four TD receptions and a two-point grab. Cheltenham Senior QB Zach Gaffin put his team on his back in the second half and willed the Panthers back into the game.
Incredible night for @HarrySTrumanHi1 Senior Sincere Thomas with four Touchdowns and a 2 Pt grab in @BTSDAthletics 34-28 win tonight over @CheltenhamSD #u10beat @EPAFootball pic.twitter.com/401RzDdU17
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
@HarrySTrumanHi1 Head Coach Ben Johnson following the @BTSDAthletics 34-28 win over @CheltenhamSD tonight #u10beat @EPAFootball pic.twitter.com/NqW1H5rKzV
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
@CheltenhamSD driving late and @HarrySTrumanHi1 a HUGE sack on 4th down and @BTSDAthletics hangs on to beat @CheltenhamSD in a wild one 34-28. Wow! #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/4yhWWKY39R
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
It took both teams a while to get into the flow of playing football once again. The light went on in the middle of the second quarter for Harry S. Truman. The Tigers pulled out to a 20-0 halftime advantage.
Defense rules in quarter one as @HarrySTrumanHi1 and @CheltenhamSD scoreless. Nice sack here by @CheltenhamSD Nate Felix #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/op2CUb1Shq
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
25 yard Field Goal attempt by @CheltenhamSD is no good. Still scoreless with @HarrySTrumanHi1 5:40 until halftime @BTSDAthletics #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/7eoKzDVKE0
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
And just that quick Terrell Delp hits Sincere Thomas on a crossing route to put @HarrySTrumanHi1 on top 6-0 over @CheltenhamSD as the two pointer failed #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer @small_play pic.twitter.com/kyZjQFYnos
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
Off into the night goes @HarrySTrumanHi1 Makai Jackson and a big pick 6! Two Pointer is no good and @BTSDAthletics up 12-0 over @CheltenhamSD 2:54 until halftime #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer @small_play pic.twitter.com/qVYGs3rDp8
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
With :09.5 left in the first half @HarrySTrumanHi1 QB Terrell Delp hits Sincere Thomas on a 24 yard TD A controversial two pointer is good and @BTSDAthletics now up 20-0 over @CheltenhamSD as we head to halftime. #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @END2008 @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/SeZbtVTlrG
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
The second-half intensity got cranked way up, but it took most of the third quarter for Cheltenham to finally get on the board. The teams traded scores and we went to the fourth quarter with Truman up 28-7.
In from the two is @CheltenhamSD Martin Latimer III @HarrySTrumanHi1 still maintains a 20-7 lead with 4:31 remaining in quarter three #u10beat @EPAFootball @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @END2008 @BTSDAthletics pic.twitter.com/NVv2rCaOym
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
Look at @HarrySTrumanHi1 Sincere Thomas get through the defense for a 20 yard score! Thomas grabs the two pointer and @BTSDAthletics back out to a 28-7 lead over @CheltenhamSD #u10beat @EPAFootball @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica pic.twitter.com/AbowrRv1r6
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
Big fumble recovery by Kaden Rossi of @HarrySTrumanHi1 deep in there own end @BTSDAthletics still up 28-7 over @CheltenhamSD as we end quarter three #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/or4ZtTWPqJ
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
The fourth quarter turned into an air-it-out wild affair. Truman made a big stop late in the game to hang on 34-28.
From QB Zach Griffin DEEP to Amani Ezell for @CheltenhamSD @HarrySTrumanHi1 still up 28-14 with 10:59 remaining. We have a ball game here! #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @BTSDAthletics @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/IxpwDCqlC2
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
Delp to Thomas lethal once again for @HarrySTrumanHi1 45 yards this time and @BTSDAthletics extends the lead to 34-14 over @CheltenhamSD with 8:35 left #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/gy13YLdITV
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
SWEET grab by @CheltenhamSD Jaquan Paige sets up a dive TD by QB Zach Gaffin This has turned into quite a shootout! @HarrySTrumanHi1 still up 34-21 with 6:40 still remaining #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer @6abc @SOLsports pic.twitter.com/cVaMbaQnlm
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
@CheltenhamSD pins @HarrySTrumanHi1 deep in its own end then recovers a fumble in the end zone and it’s now @BTSDAthletics 34 Panthers 28 with 5:47 left. Oh my! #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/Y3SdDQOOf3
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021
@CheltenhamSD driving late and @HarrySTrumanHi1 a HUGE sack on 4th down and @BTSDAthletics hangs on to beat @CheltenhamSD in a wild one 34-28. Wow! #u10beat @EPAFootball @HSFBamerica @CaryMoyer pic.twitter.com/4yhWWKY39R
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) March 14, 2021