NAZARETH – Palisades quarterback Kyle Jensen may have saved his best game for last, as he led the Red Team throwing four touchdown passes to a 27-21 win in the 38th Annual McDonald’s Lehigh Valley Classic at Nazareth’s Andy Leh Stadium.
Jensen got the scoring going in the first quarter. Jensen hit Wade Williams of Pius X for a 4-yard touchdown pass for the first score. But he wasn’t done in the quarter. Jensen’s second touchdown pass in the quarter went to Jameel Symour of Northampton on a beautiful pass for 19 yards. Ian Heck’s extra point gave the Red Team a 14-0 lead.
The Gold Team decided to make things interesting in the second quarter. After a nice punt by Tim Picerno of Pocono Mountain East to the Red Teams two-yard line, AJ Safi of Salisbury would get the Gold Team on the scoreboard when he tackled Gary Fish in the end zone for the safety. The Gold Team trailed 14-2. But the big play for the Gold Team came when Jonathan Mangual of Pocono Mountain West hit Shane McEvoy of Lehighton for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The Gold Team trailed 14-8.
Right before halftime Jenson would get his third touchdown pass of the game as he found Jameel Seymour of Northampton streaking down the sideline for a 64-yard touchdown pass. The Red Team would go into halftime leading 21-8.
In the second half the Gold Team was able to cut into the Red Team’s lead when Thad Kosciolek of Allentown Central Catholic hit McEvoy a the 22-yard touchdown pass. The Red Team now led 21-15.
Jenson would answer for the Red Team by throwing his fourth touchdown pass in the game to Matt Siedt of Nazareth hauled in the 19-yard pass. The Red Team now led 27-15.
The Gold Team made a late run when Mangual went in for a one-yard run. The kick failed and the Gold Team trailed 27-21. McEvoy who already caught two touchdowns made an incredible catch for 37-yards late in the game.
The Gold team was faced with a 4th down late in the game. Thad Kosciolek’s fourth-down pass attempt was intercepted, ending the Gold Team’s drive. But in the end a pair of interceptions by Kevin Kroboth of Nazareth and Jack Buckley of Phillipsburg helped preserve the win for the Red Team. The Red Team held on for a 27-21 victory.
This game is all about seniors and on this night one senior stood out. Kyle Jensen threw for 277 yards and four touchdowns as he led his Red Team to a 27-21 victory. Jensen took all the snaps for the Red Team. Jensen said, “This was a lot of fun. It was a team effort.”
The Gold Team was led by Lehighton’s Shane McEvoy with 171 yards receiving and two touchdowns. Jon Mangual passed for 118 yards and ran for 59 yards.
Mangual said, “They were a fast defense. I had to keep my head up and look for an opening.”
