Bertoline Gillan Make Lasting Memory in Marple-Newtown Finale

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News

Willie McGonigle | November 22, 2023

SPRINGFIELD: High School Football is about family and making memories those words according to Marple-Newtown Tigers head coach Chris Gicking were that of former assistant coach Anthony Paoletti. On Wednesday night a pair of Seniors: QB David Bertoline and WR Alex Gillan both of whom were playing in their final football game of not just their high school careers but also possibly their lives.

With their Tigers trailing neighboring Cardinal O’Hara 20-19 Bertoline stepped up into the pocket finding a leaping Gillan who then made a Lion defender miss and found the endzone giving the Tigers the wild 25-20 come-from-behind victory in the team’s Thanksgiving Eve matchup.

“That’s going to be my last ever football catch of my life what a way to end it.”Gillan  said adding “I’ll remember that for the rest of my life when I think of football that’ll be the only thing I think of.”

“That’s going to be something that you tell your kids, grandkids it’s something that’s going to live on, it’s one thing you never forget.” Bertoline the High Point University Lacrosse commit said of the game-winning drive.

Things started out with a bang for the Tigers Freshman Aaron Madeh returned the opening kickoff 77 yards giving the Tigers the 6-0 lead a mere 9 seconds into the game. Two plays later Jason Bennett recovered a Lions fumble, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize on the turnover, instead, they turned the ball over on downs.

On their first possession of the second quarter, the Tigers added onto their lead with a 4-play 74-yard drive that was highlighted by a 35 completion by Bertoline to Trey Saviour that put the Tigers at the Lions 40. On the very next play, Brett Wolski busted through the Lions’ defense for a 40-yard touchdown. Following a three-and-out by the Lions, the Tigers wasted little time adding on to their lead with Wolski taking a screen pass from Bertoline and racing 68 yards to put the Tigers up 19-0.

The Lions broke through and cut the Tigers lead down to 19-7 with a nine-play 65-yard drive that Keon Powell capped with his bruising 3-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing Tiger drive, Powell intercepted Bertoline but the Lions couldn’t capitalize on the mistake turning the ball over on downs and giving the Tigers a chance to add to their lead. After a Bertoline to Savior 45-yard completion that put the Tigers on the Lions 3, the Lions managed to stop Wolski just short of the goal line keeping it 19-7 at the half.

With the momentum of their goal-line stop, the Lions came out of the locker room and marched down the field reaching the Tigers 29 before turning the ball over on downs. On the second possession of the second half, Powell and the Lions cut the Tigers’ lead down to 19-14 with his 5-yard touchdown run setting things up for a wild finish.

After forcing the Tigers to a turnover on downs while trailing by 5 with 2:28 left to play, Sophomore QB John Welde orchestrated five play  76-yard drive that was capped with him hitting Logan Maloney in strive for a 66-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, and the Lions held the 20-19 lead with 1:05 left to play.

Welde finished the game with 253 yards passing for the Lions.

On the first play of the ensuing drive for the Tigers Bertoline connected with Paul DeFruscio for a 14-yard gain following a sack and an incompletion Bertoline once again found Saviour for a 36-yard gain that put the Tigers at the Lions 24 and then again the pair connected for a six-yard gain setting things the stage for Bertoline and Gillin to have their storybook moment. Bertoline finished the game with 274 yards passing.

A Wolski interception sealed the victory for the Tigers.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews