PEN ARGYL – Both teams came into Saturday’s game with a 5-0 record and the winner of this game would stay on top of the Colonial league with undefeated Bangor.
In this defensive battle it was Pen Argyl’s Zach Miller who came up with a big play late in the fourth quarter. Miller stopped Trevor Yashur on a fake punt as the Green Knights held on for a 14-8 win over Northern Lehigh at Alumni Stadium.
Northern Lehigh’s opening drive ended when quarterback Dylan Hofmann over shot his target and Kyle Muller came up with the interception.
Pen Argyl struck first, driving 72-yards on 15-plays for the score. Off the turnover the Green Knights used their big line to pound the ball. Dylan Evans scored on a fourth down play going in for the one-yard score. The extra point was no good and Pen Argyl led 6-0.
Northern Lehigh answered the Green Knights scoring drive. Trevor Yashur won the foot race into the end zone going 19-yard for the score. After an off sides penalty by Pen Argyl the Bulldogs decided to go for the two-point conversion. Yashur went in for the two-point conversion putting the Bulldogs up 8-6 with 7:06 remaining in the quarter.
The Green Knights answered right back. The big play of the drive was a Conor Gum 60-yard pass to Kyle Muller to the Bulldogs’ 10-yard line. Two plays later Gum called his own play, scoring on an eight yard run. Gum’s two-point conversion put his team up 14-8 with 3:42 remaining in the first half.
Pen Argyl head coach Paul Reduzzi talked about the first half, “We looked to control the line of scrimmage and try to get stuff on the board early.”
The Green Knights went into halftime with a 14-8 lead. They also led in the statistics in the first half. Pen Argyl had 163 yards of total offense and six first downs. Northern Lehigh had nine first downs, one costly turnover and 133 total yards of offense.
With the game on the line and 6:36 remaining in the game, the Bulldogs tried to pickup the first down on a fake punt. Miller made the huge stop and the Green Knights took over on downs.
Northern Lehigh would never see the ball again. The Green Knights used their big offensive line and ran out the clock. They ran 15 straight plays including two fourth down conversion to preserve the win. Reduzzi talked about his offensive line, “They are a big group of kids and they work hard and do things well. They have a lot of heart and made those big fourth down drives.”
Pen Argyl’s running back Dylan Evans led the way with 106 yards and quarterback Conor Gum passed for 108 yards and rushed for 38 yards.
Reduzzi said about Evans performance, “He can control a game and is a leader. He is a impact player and makes plays on both sides of the ball.”
Northern Lehigh’s Trevor Yashur rushed for 77 yards.
With the win Pen Argyl moves to 6-0. Pen Argyl plays at Catasauqua next Friday night. Northern Lehigh (5-1) host Northwestern Lehigh.
