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Akings Two Touchdowns the Difference In Wilson West Lawns Hard Fought Victory over Cheltenham

Tagged under: District 1, District 3, Gameday Hub, News

| August 25, 2024

KING OF PRUSSIA: Correll Akings was ready for the 2024 season to get underway. Originally Akings and his Bulldog teammates were supposed to start their season under the lights on Friday night against the Cheltenham Panthers. Still, a field issue caused the game to have to be pushed back to Saturday and to be played at Upper Merion High School. It was difficult for Akings having to wait the extra time but it was time to go he was more then ready and it was his touchdown with 5:53 left in the game that sealed the Bulldogs hard-fought 28-20 victory over the Panthers Saturday afternoon.  The touchdown was Akings second on the day.

“It was really hard, we were really ready to play Friday no matter where no matter when but we just had to hold it and keep our mind till the game started.” Akings said on the mindset of having to wait the extra day.

The Bulldogs started fast on the third play of the game Damian Greer intercepted Panthers Kendall Jackson setting up the Bulldogs with a 1st and Goal from the 9. However, the Panthers defense also came out firing making a goal line stop that was capped off by Marcel Pagbaya stuffing the Bulldogs runner at the one forcing a turnover on downs.

On the Panthers’ second drive of the game, Greer got his second interception in as many drives only to have it be wiped out by a facemask penalty, but the Bulldogs defense didn’t let the Panthers’ new life stop them eventually forcing a turnover on downs.

On the ensuing drive, Greer got the Bulldogs scoreboard with a 3-yard touchdown run giving the Bulldogs the early 6-0 lead.

 

Akings extended the Bulldogs lead in the second quarter when he got through the Panthers defense and raced 51 yards for the touchdown. The Bulldogs added the two-point conversion and had the 14-0 lead.

The Panthers clawed their way back on their ensuing drive going 69 yards on 12 plays before Jackson found Carsen Giddiens for the 6-yard  touchdown cutting down the Bulldogs lead down to 14-6. On the ensuing drive, Panthers Sean Alston intercepted Madyx Gruber and returned it 30 yards to the Bulldogs 1 yard line on the next play Jackson powered his way into the endzone making it 14-12 in favor of the Bulldogs

 


It appeared as though the Panthers would have the momentum going into the locker room at halftime but that wasn’t the case Gruber beautifully orchestrated a Bulldog drive that covered 61 yards on four plays that was capped with Gruber finding TE Michael Glover who out jumped couple Panthers defenders in the endzone giving the Bulldogs the 21-12 lead going into the half.

“That was huge obviously because that put us up 9 and get momentum going in.” Bulldogs Coach Doug Dahms said adding “It was big, it was a great play, great catch.”

After a scoreless third quarter, Akings second touchdown of the day this one from 8 yards out gave the Bulldogs the 28-12 lead. Akings finished the game with 89 yards on 12 carries.

Jackson and the Panthers didn’t go down without a fight going 80 yards on eight plays before he found Giddiens again this time for a 44-yard touchdown cutting the lead down to 28-20. The Bulldogs recovered the ensuing onsides kick and ran out the clock to seal the victory.

Jackson finished the game with 17 completions on 32 attempts for 242 yards. Giddiens hauled in 5 catches for 63 yards while Ahsaiah “Zeke” Upchurch was the Panthers’ other leading receiver with 5 catches for 93 yards.

Next week the Panthers head on the road for a Suburban One Crossover matchup with Central Bucks East. The Bulldogs will host their home opener when they welcome another District 1 team Plymouth-Whitemarsh to John Gurski Stadium. Both games kick off on Friday at 7 pm.

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