The first playoff game for the Cocalico Eagles (5) and Berks Catholic Saints (4) in the 2021 season will go down as an instant classic. Both Cocalico and Berks Catholic entered Friday’s District III 4A playoff game at 6-4.
The game started with two kick-offs that went out of bounds for Berks Catholic giving Cocalico an excellent field position at the Saints’ 42-yard line to begin. The Eagles marched down the field on the drive converting two fourth downs and taking 7:33 off of the clock. The drive resulted in a five-yard touchdown scramble from quarterback Blayke Taddei. The PAT from Cole Roos made it 7-0 Cocalico.
The first Saints’ drive was a quick one as Cocalico recorded three tackles behind the line of scrimmage forcing a three and out. Tonight’s game was a battle of the line of scrimmage and the defenses were winning it on both sides. Every drive up until the final two minutes of the first half resulted in no points.
With 1:50 left in the first half, the game flipped. Blayke Taddei’s screen pass attempt was intercepted by Berks Catholic’s defensive end Tyler Givens who came off of a block and went up and secured the acrobatic catch. This gave Berks Catholic phenomenal field position at Cocalico’s 32-yard line.
The first play for the Saints’ offense following the interception was a 32-yard touchdown run from Christian Cacchione with 1:42 left in the half. Not only did Givens get the interception, but he tied it up at 7 with his successful extra point. Cocalico was unable to take the lead before halftime, keeping it 7-7 after 24 minutes of play.
The second half started off like most of the first half had been played, offensively slow. Berks Catholic was knocking on the red zone door in the middle of the third when the drive halted and the Eagles defense made a stand forcing a turnover on downs. Cocalico couldn’t translate it into any points.
Cocalico then recovered a Berks Catholic fumble at the Saints’ 46-yard line with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter. However, the Eagles went three and out giving the ball back to Berks Catholic. No scoring in the third quarter kept it tied at seven entering the last 12 minutes of regulation.
Berks Catholic’s Josiah Jordan then broke free and hit a 50-yard touchdown run making it 14-7 Saints early in the fourth quarter.
Cocalico had a game-tying 42-yard Bourassa touchdown on their drive called back for an offensive holding penalty. The drive eventually halted.
The next Saints’ drive resulted in a punt leaving Cocalico time to potentially tie the game up. However, Berks Catholic’s Jackson Huddleson recovered a Taddei fumble with 1:32 remaining.
Josiah Jordan sealed the Saints’ victory with his second rushing touchdown of the night. This one was from 42 yards out. Berks Catholic defeated Cocalico 21-7 moving on to the District III 4A Semifinals against Bishop McDevitt (1) next Friday.
