By Don Leypoldt
Just one word can describe C.B. East’s (3-7, 3-4) 35-21 frigid Friday home win against brother school C.B. South (3-7, 3-4).
White-Wash.
Though it might have been Senior Night, Patriot junior RB Justyn White stole the show by running for 321 yards and five touchdowns on 31 carries. The win gives the Patriots a 2009 sweep of their Central Bucks rivals.
“We came out hungry tonight,” exclaimed White. “We know South is a good team but if we beat them, we’d be the C.B. champs. We came out here ready to play.”
“This was everything I could imagine,” offered East senior DB Shane Carroll.
The Titans stopped White by inches on East’s fake punt during the game’s first series. Five plays later, South QB Bobby DiPasquale ran 30 yards on a keeper for a touchdown.
Carroll- who had an interception in the first half- concedes six inches to the Titans’ best receiver Josh Williams. But Carroll, alone covering Williams on a Titan third and long two drives later, swatted away a long pass attempt. It forced South to punt from deep in their own territory.
“We were supposed to switch on coverage but I realized we didn’t switch. I got back there as fast as I could and luckily I got up there and broke it up,” Carroll admitted.
The Patriots then marched 40 yards on six plays, capped when the O-line created a Great White Way that allowed Justyn to score from six yards out early in the second quarter.
DiPasquale’s long kickoff return gave South a short field. On a third and five, Titan QB Matt Johns hit senior RB Theo Davis (6 touches, 54 yards) on a perfect screen pass that Davis took 18 yards for a 14-7 South lead.
East responded- White broke off three runs of 14+ yards, scoring from three yards out to make the game 14-all at the half.
It was all White after the intermission. He burst up the gut for a 41 yard touchdown run. He and teammate Jake Schwartz (10 carries, 50 yards) then marched 55 yards on six runs. White capped that drive with his fourth touchdown of the night.
The Titans’ own TD- Davis- added his second TD midway through the fourth to cut the lead to 28-21. But White broke off two 31 yard runs on the next drive, the second one going to the house for the resulting 35-21 final.
Sophomore Dan Brown (10 carries, 73 yards) paced the Titans.
The Patriots did not lack for adversity in the month of September. They lost their three non-conference games to opponents with a 21-6 collective record at press time. Head coach Tim Michael abruptly resigned for personal reasons on September 19th.
“We’ve had some real hurdles to overcome this year and we’ve really become a family,” commented senior captain and DT Lance Rosina.
South did not record their first win until October 2nd. But a more effective running attack helped South close October by putting away Hatboro-Horsham and Pennridge. The Titan offense, which averaged barely 12 points a game in their first seven contests, scored 78 in those two wins.
“We had a lot of young kids playing at the end of the year. We have a heck of a sophomore tailback (Brown) and quarterback (Johns) coming back,” noted Titan head coach Bart Szarko, who also praised the returning DiPasquale. “They were able to experience some positive things at the end and they know they can play at this level.”
South loses their leading rusher in senior Jon Eisemann (117 carries, 595 yards this season) and their most dynamic weapon in senior Chris Eberz (11 yards per touch in 2009).
“They were part of our first championship. The leadership this year was something that was really really strong,” Szarko commended his seniors. “When we were 1-6, they didn’t pack it in but continued to work hard.”
But the Titans return their leading tackler in LB Joe Szatmary, Williams and several other valuable skill position players.
An even younger East squad bids adieu to Rosina and Schwartz, but returns most of their statistical leaders…including White, who ends the year with almost 1,400 yards rushing.
“This win would mean a lot,” admitted Rosina before the game, “but even if we don’t get it I will always to be proud to have played with all these guys. I wouldn’t trade the experiences for anything and I’ll always be proud to be a Central Bucks East Patriot.”
