EasternPAFootball.com

Gregg Smith

  • Miracle at the Dog Pound

    After trailing the whole game, the Bulldogs of West York were able to pull off a 35-34 thriller in double overtime over the Conestoga Valley Buckskins.
    After trading punts, CV was able to get the ball moving against the West York defense.   As the Skins would heavily rely on their workhorse Kevin Kelley to pound the ball out on the ground against the West York defense.  CV would get on the board first midway through the first quarter when Alex Dienner connected with Diaire Brison on a post route for a 25 yard touchdown pass.  Robbie Cardina’s PAT would be blocked by West York’s Kyle Kinard, leaving the Skins up 6-0.
    The teams would then trade possessions.  West York would then start their next drive at their own 10 and drive down the field on five plays, ending it on a Alex George quarterback keeper for a 65 yard touchdown run.  The PAT would be blocked by CV’s Andrew Burkholder, leaving the score tied at 6-6.  CV’s Robbie Cardina would add two more field goals in the second quarter, leaving the Skins up 12-6 at the half.
    After forcing West York to punt to open the second half, the Skins choose to eat up some clock.  Driving 83 yards on twelve plays taking 5:51 off the game clock, capping it off on a Kevin Kelley 10 yard touchdown run.  The Skins elected to go for two, and Dienner would connect with Stefan Sensenig for the two point conversion.  Putting the Skins ahead 20-6.
    West York would strike quickly on their next possession.  Driving 84 yards in only three plays.  Alex George would end it on a 31 yard strike to Brett Campbell in stride for the touchdown pass.  The PAT would be blocked by CV’s Joel Leicy, with the Bulldogs still trailing 20-12.  But it wouldn’t take the Dogs long to score again.  After forcing CV to a 3 and out, the Bulldogs would score quickly.  As George would connect with Dan Gay on a short curl route.  Gay would do the rest of the work, breaking a tackle and tightroping the sideline and sprint to the end zone for a 41 yard touchdown reception.  The Bulldogs elected to go for two, and George and Gay would connect again for the two point conversion to tie the game up at 20-20 with 11:07 remaining in the game.  The defenses for both teams would then step it up when it counted, to force the game into overtime.
    Conestoga Valley elected to go on defense to start the first OT.  Giving West York the ball at the CV 10.  CV seemed to have dominated the West York offense on four downs, but a pass interfernce call in the end zone, kept West York alive.  As West York would capitalize on that, when Corey Harris would take the handoff from George and run off tackle for a four yard touchdown run.  The PAT would be good, giving West York their first lead of the game, 27-20.
    CV would bounce back, as Dienner would connect with Joel Leicy for an 8 yard touchdown pass.  The PAT was good, tying the game up at 27-27 to end the 1st OT.  CV would score again on an 8 yard touchdown pass, as Dienner would connect with Stefan Sensenig in the end zone.  Cardina’s PAT was good, giving the Skins the lead again 34-27.
    West York would only need two downs, as Corey Harris snuck in from a yard out for a touchdown for West York.  The Bulldogs would call timeout and discuss on whether to tie it up, or go for two.  West York elected to line up and go for two.  Alex George took the snap, and ran up the middle for the conversion.  Giving the Bulldogs the come from behind victory with a final score of 35-34 in double overtime.  Now the Bulldogs will go on the road and take on Susquehanna Township, in an attempt to defend their district 3 AAA crown.

  • Panthers defense dominates

    The Dallastown Wildcats came in to the game looking to avenge their loss a few weeks back against the Panthers.  Unfortunately, Central York’s defense had other plans.  And that was to cause turnovers and let the offense capitalize off of the turnovers.
    Cental York opened up the game by getting the ball on offense.  But turned the ball over.  But their defense stepped up quickly.  As Marques Fells read the eyes of quarterback Josh Luckenbaugh, and intercepted his pass.  Fells would then follow a few of his defensive comrades and sprint down the sideline for a 54 yard touchdown return.  Aaron Goodyear would add on the PAT and Central hopped out to an early 7-0 lead.
    Both teams would then trade punts.  Dallastown’s third possession was very productive.  As they would put together a nine play drive, that would be capped of by Luckenbaugh hitting Anthony Defabio on a seam pass down the middle.  Defabio would be met by a defender at the 22, but lowered his shoulder to break the tackle to get himself into the end zone.  Ryan Behrmann would add the PAT to tie the game up at 7-7.  Once again the teams would trade punts.  Central would then put together another short drive, that would be capped of by a 31 yard touchdown run by Charles Anderson.  And again Goodyear would add the PAT to put the Panthers on top again, 14-7.  Dallastown did however manage to pull together another drive before the end of the half.  But the Panther defense stepped it up when it counted.  Dallastown was facing a third and goal, when Luckenbaugh’s pass was intercepted by Raphael Nwanguma in the end zone to end the half.
    The third quarter was a struggle for both offenses.  Dallastown was able to manage to get three more points on the board, shortly after Central had turned the ball over on a botched snap that went sailing high over the punter’s head.  Leaving the Wildcats in striking distance and only down 14-10.
    However, Central’s defense finally took over the fourth quarter.  Jonah Plymire was able to knock the ball loose from Dallastown’s quarterback Luckenbaugh.  Dylan Wanner would recover the ball and return it 8 yards for another defensive score for the Panthers’.  Goodyear once again added another PAT, pulling the Panthers farther ahead 21-10.  Central would then close out the scoring, when Brandon Baker would find Justin Burke down the home sideline for a 44 yard touchdown pass.  Giving the Panthers’ a 28-10 lead.
    Central York’s defense was able to hold the Wildcats to only 174 yards of total offense.  Only 32 yards on the ground.  And causing four turnovers.  Central York will now advance to the next round of playoffs, and travel to Wilson to take on the Bulldogs next week.

  • Barons hold off Wilson

    After being delayed an extra evening due to inclement weather, 2,502 fans still came out to watch some exciting football action at Elden Rettew Field in Manheim, PA.  As the Wilson Bulldogs came to town to take on the Manheim Central Barons.

    The Barons started out with the ball first.  They were able to collect a few first downs on the opening drive, before being stopped and forced to punt the ball away to the Bulldogs.  Wilson would then use up the next six minutes and drive down the field on the Barons defense.  Concluding their drive when Zach Zweizig would find Tyler Beck in the end zone on a 25 yard touchdown pass.  Manheim Central wouldn’t take too long to respond.  As on the ensuing kickoff, Dan Trafford would receive the ball at his own one and return the ball 93 yards to get the Barons started at the Bulldogs 6 yard line.  Quarterback Justin Gorman would get the Barons on the board when he decided to keep the ball and scamper to the left and get into the endzone.  The Barons however were unable to convert the PAT, leaving them trailing 7-6.

    After trading turnovers over the next possessions, the Barons would get the scoring again midway through the second quarter.  As Joe Gruber would take a handoff from Gorman in the shotgun, and burst up through the middle 19 yards to the endzone.  The two point conversion however failed.  But on their next possession, Justin Gorman would connect with Dakota Royer on a 50 yard seam pass down the middle for a touchdown.  Taylor Groff’s PAT would be good, putting the Barons up 19-7 at the half.

    After holding Wilson to a three and out to open up the second half, the Barons decided to turn to their ground game and drive down the field and use up some of the clock.  The drive would conclude, when Justin Gorman would roll to his right and connect with Dan Trafford  for a 13 yard touchdown pass, and Gorman’s second of the game.  With the point after good, Manheim Central now lead 26-7.  The rest of the third quarter consisted of both defenses flexing their muscles momentarily forcing three and outs, as well as  turnovers.

    But the Bulldogs were ready to end the silence.  Shortly into the fourth quarter, Zweizig would find Brad Ohlinger for a 14 yard touchdown pass.  The Bulldog defense would step up once again on their next series, as Josh Iacob would strip the ball from MC’s Joe Gruber and Wilson’s Louis Weaver would recover the fumble.  Minutes later, Nick Greth would bounce out to the left side of his line, and score on a 5 yard touchdown run.  The ensuing PAT would be blocked by the Barons Peter Ireland leaving the Bulldogs still trailing, 26-20.  Once again though, the Bulldog defense would receive another turnover by the Barons.  When Wilson’s Louis Weaver would recover an ackward backward pass by Gorman in the endzone for another Bulldogs’ touchdown.  With Shane Witmer’s PAT good, the Bulldogs were finally ahead again 27-26 with 6:16 remaining in the game..

    The Barons would get things rolling once again on the ensuing drive.  After a few plays of moving the ball down the field, the Barons would settle on a Taylor Groff 26 yard field goal putting the Barons back in the lead at 29-27.

    But Wilson was not ready to let the game end just yet.  As the Bulldogs relied on moving the ball down the field through the air on short curls, and sideline routes.  But with 13 seconds remaining and facing a 4th and 20 at the Baron 25, the Bulldogs elected to bring Shane Witmyer out to attempt a 42 yard field goal to seal the game.  The snap was good, the holder had the ball in place, but the ball sailed just left of the posts.  Justin Gorman and his offense would come back onto the field and kneel down on the ball to conclude the game and giving the Barons a 29-27 victory over the Wilson Bulldogs.

  • Harrisburg @ Bishop McDevitt

    HARRISBURG – Battle of the Burg.  The weather was just right.  Warm, sunny Saturday morning.  Large crowd.  What better way to start the football season.  The Harrisburg Cougars made the short trip up Market Street to take on their city rival Bishop McDevitt.
    The cougars would open up the game receiving the opening kickoff.  But were unable to do anything on their first possession and had to punt the ball away.  Upon attempting to receive the punt, McDevitt muffed the punt as they were calling for a fair catch and Harrisburg recovered.  Unable to move the ball, the cougars turned the ball over on downs.  McDevitt would get the ball on their own 28.  Harrisburg would hold them to a three and out, and force them to punt the ball.  However, Ted Deily bobbled the snap from the center and was tackled at their 1 yard line and turned the ball over on downs to the cougars.  On the next snap, Jawon Chisholm would take the snap and go right up the middle for the quick touchdown to put Harrisburg on the board first 7-0.
    McDevitt wouldn’t take long on their next possession to themselves on the scoreboard.  As Matt Johnson(QB) would keep the ball on a keeper to the left and sprint his way 44 yards into the endzone.  However the PAT was no good, leaving the Crusaders trailing 7-6.
    The Crusaders defense would hold Harrisburg to a three and out on their next possession forcing them to punt the ball.  But Dawon Smith(McD) wasn’t ready to let his offense back on the field as he would return the punt back 68 yards for another McDevitt score.  Putting them ahead 13-7.
    The second quarter would start as a defensive struggle for both sides, as they would trade the next two possessions.  More than half way through the second though, McDevitt would open up the game.  As Jameel Poteat would follow the his line to the left on a counter play, and then cut his way back to the right as he went down the field for a 54 yard touchdown run.  Putting the Crusaders up 20-7.  On their next possession, Matt Johnson would hook up with Salath Williams in the left corner of the end zone for a 27 yard touchdown pass.  27-7 McDevitt.  Harrisburg would add on a field goal to end the first half to put them down 27-10.
    Brian Lemelle would get the Crusaders started in the second half by taking the opening kickoff 51 yards to get them started on the Cougar 47.  A few plays later, Johnson would hook up with Poteat on a little dump pass to the left and Poteat would do the rest of the work for the 21 yard touchdown pass.  Putting McDevitt up 34-10.  The cougars wouldn’t take long to respond on their next possession.  As they would move the ball down the field and Chisholm would cap it off with a 3 yard plunge up the middle for the score.  The extra point was botched, leaving them still trailing 34-16.
    Bishop McDevitt would cap off the scoring early in the 4th quarter, as Johnson would follow his center up the middle for a 1 yard touchdown run.  Putting the Crusaders up 41-16 and capping once again another great rivalry.