The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
CoachComm Cobalt Plus
Turf Tank
 

Bucks Roll Patriots in Opening Round 42-26

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

| November 5, 2022

The opening round of the district 1 6A playoffs got underway Friday night when the 11th seeded Central Bucks West Bucks (7-4,5-2) marched into 1st LT Colby Umbrell Field to take on their rivals the 6th seeded Central Bucks East Patriots (8-3,5-2). What’s better than ending the regular season with a win against your rivals? The only answer is opening up the playoffs against them! The Bucks and Patriots met a week earlier in their annual East Vs West rivalry game which saw the visiting Bucks come out victorious in a hard-fought battle 21-14. This time the stakes where a little higher but the outcome was the same, however the Bucks doubled up there output in their 42-26 victory. After taking over 4 minutes off the clock in their opening possession, junior quarterback Ganz Cooper got the party started for the Bucks with 7:38 to go in the first quarter when he plowed his way forward from the 1-yard line for the score. Sophomore Ryan Clemens hit his PAT and the lead was 7-0.

The Patriots would march down the field on their next possession behind a strong performance by senior running back Ethan Shine, however a botched snap to senior Declan Kelly on 4th and short would end any hope of a score for the Patriots. The bucks again took over and marched down the field. Time would expire on the first quarter with the score still locked at 7-0. With 11:11 to go in the second quarter the Bucks found themselves knocking on the door of another score when senior quarterback Ganz Cooper rolled to his right on a play action and found senior running back Eli Boehm in the flat for a 6-yard passing touchdown. After the Clemens PAT their lead extended to 14-0.

The Patriots following possession would end with another turnover on downs. CB West then marched down the field while eating up chunks of clock. The Bucks controlled the line of scrimmage and seemed to always pick up the first when they needed it most. Knocking at the door of another score with only 3:41 to go in the half, senior running back Eli Boehm found the endzone again. This time from 4-yards out. The Clemens PAT was good, and the lead grew to 21-0.

On the very next possession the Patriots seemed to pick up some steam and were looking to fly down the field when the Bucks junior MLB Matt Cleland stripped senior quarterback Pat Keller and the ball went bouncing only to be picked up by the Patriots senior FB Joe Maeglin who only managed a few steps before sophomore Aedan Donnelly stripped him and West’s senior linebacker Michael O’Hanlon covered it up.  WHAT A PLAY!!

West would capitalize on their field position. With only 1:47 to go in the half, senior FB Vinny Cherubini took the handoff up the gut from 2-yards out for the score.

The PAT was good, and the score was 28-0 which is where we would sit heading into the half.

The third quarter got going with a strong running performance by senior RB Ethan Shine which ended with him trotting in from 4-yards out, cutting the lead to 28-6 after a blocked PAT.

The Bucks ended their next possession with a three and out. After two great throws from senior QB Pat Keller, the Patriots were charging on all cylinders. Senior RB Ethan Shine took another handoff from his QB and plowed his way into the endzone from 4-yards out. The Patriots tried to convert the two-point conversion but were unsuccessful. With only 4:21 to go in the quarter the score was 28-12.

The Bucks next drive lasted over four minutes and was capped off by another Eli Boehm touchdown. With only :20 seconds in the quarter he took the pitch and went 1-yard in for the score. The PAT was converted, and the lead was 35-12.

The Patriots couldn’t get anything going again and were forced to punt. As the fourth quarter got underway the Bucks took over and were looking to score again as time just ticked away, when the series ended abruptly after Senior DB Dean Blackwell intercepted Ganz Cooper to spark some life into his squad.  the Patriots were rolling and QB Pat Keller was hitting his targets to set his squad up.  Sitting at the Bucks 19-yard line the Patriots QB saw a chance and heaved one to a seemingly wide-open Matt LaBouliere as his defender tripped and fell.  With the score & PAT, the Patriots cut into the lead 35-19 with 10:10 to play in the contest.

West didn’t want to give East any hope of a comeback and proceeded to knock off over 6 minutes from the game clock which ended with Junior QB Ganz Cooper in the endzone with only 2:43 left to play. The PAT mad the score 42-19.

Trying to make something out of nothing, senior Pat Keller once again led his team down the field after making some great throws.  With their backs against the wall, Pat Keller rolled right, evaded a would-be tackler, and found senior FB Joe Maeglin from 10-yards out. The PAT was good, and the lead now stood at 42-26 with 1:13 to go.

Unfortunately for the Patriots the Bucks lined up in victory formation and killed the clock and any hopes of a comeback. The 11th seeded Bucks will now have a home playoff game at War Memorial Field next week against North Penn after the 14th seeded North Penn Knights (6-5, 5-3) knocked off the 3rd seeded Pennsbury Falcons (9-2,7-1) 22-21.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x