Iconic Steve Lennox and His Interboro Bucs Stun Ridley on Thanksgiving 28-21 @GoBucsSports

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News

Mark Carfagno | December 2, 2019

Steve Lennox with the Paul Merion Memorial Trophy

Just about everyone who is in the Delaware County football loop figured the Ridley Green Raiders would just have to show up to come out victorious over their Thanksgiving Day rival Interboro, After all who could blame them.  Interboro started the season 0-9 and won their first game on the last day of the regular season with a victory over Chi-Chester.  They lost games to the tune of 42-17, 78- 47, 48-7, 57-8 and 60-13. Ouch ! Bucs Head Coach  Steve Lennox was about to face Ridley for the 24th time. His record against his Holiday opponent was 12-11 with most of the experts believing it would soon be even at 12 . Maybe it was the rumor that was swirling around  the Raiders home field that this would be Lennox’s last game and that he would announce his retirement after the game which  motivated his players. Lennox who was mobbed by players, former players, family , friends and students after the game said ” I’ve been doing this a long time, I started out in Delaware and have spent 27 years here at Interboro.  It took me a little longer to get from the locker room to the field as I had to navigate those steps . ” He continued , ” I can’t throw the rock anymore in practice because of my shoulder and coaching does take it’s toll .  I have had many great moments and memories that will last forever, but this win today may be my best win ever. ”

So no , Lennox did not announce is retirement, he wanted the day to belong to his players and the school.   However from the way he was talking it very well may be the end of his coaching career.  Before Lennox coached at Interboro he was the head coach of Dickinson High School in Delaware where he compiled 84 wins.  At Interboro his record stands at  222-95-0 for a .700 winning percentage  which places him among the all time winningest coaches in Delaware County history.  So how did this team manage to come out with the win against a Ridley squad who entered the game 7-4 with its’ last loss coming in the first round of the District One playoffs to Central Bucks West ? By playing Bucs – Lennox style football.

Sean Myers

After stopping the Raiders on fourth and goal and trailing 21 -20 with 9:33 on the clock the Bucs took over from their own 3 yard line. They proceeded to march 97 yards on 15 plays consuming almost 6 minutes and grabbing a 26-20 lead with 3:34 to go.  Sean Myers scored on a first and goal from the 2 after QB Mike Zane scooted 12 yards on the previous play.  Zane ran for the 2 point conversion and the arithmetic read 28-21 in favor of the Bucs.  Surprisingly  the big play on the drive was a 23 yard Zane completion to Jerimiah Butts. Known for running the ball during his tenure Lennox stayed true to form running the ball 52 times for 234 yards with 4 TD’s.  Meyers led Interboro carrying 22-100- TD. Zane passed 6-12- 83.  After the Bucs took the lead Ridley had plenty of time to score and either tie or win the game.

After the ensuing kickoff the Raiders began their possession from their own 28. On first down Dylan Staley ran 15 yards and at the 1:24 mark he ran for 15 more moving the ball to the Ridley 49.  After a 5 yard penalty on first down against the Bucs the ball was moved to the Interbor0 46. On first down Ridley gained one yard but a 10 yard holding penalty was assessed against the Raiders and the ball was moved back to the Ridley 44. However a the officials never changed the down marker back to first down and no one really took notice until it read fourth down. On Ridley’s final play Staley ran for just 5 yards and was well short of the first down as the Interboro sideline erupted.  The talented Staley went over the 1,000 yard mark earlier in the contest and ended his morning running 17-143- 2 TD. Interboro led 20-7 at the half but the Raiders scored 14 points in the third stanza to take a 21-20 advantage.  The two scores were a Staley 5 yard jaunt and a Jack Grace 16 yard pass to Gavin Kinsgborough . 

The Bucs took a 6-0 in the first quarter when Robert Forbes scored from the 2 after Meyers had recovered a fumble the Ridley six.  Ridley also took advantage of a turnover when Kinsborough intercepted a pass on the Ridley 40 and returned it 7 yards to the 47.  On first down Staley raced 35 yards and would later run 2 yards for six points.  The Bucs again would benefit from a miscue when Grace fumbled the ball which was recovered by the Bucs Aiden McDevitt at the Ridley 8 yard line. However negotiating those 8 yards was not that easy.  Facing a fourth and goal from the 3  Lennox called for a reverse and the result was an easy TD for Paul Finley and a 12-7 Interboro lead. Zane ended the first half TD scoring busting 16 yards to the end zone and the 2 point conversion was made on a Sean Meyers pass to Mike Wittorf.

Yes Lennox did it again by calling for his running back to throw the ball after receiving the handoff from Zane.    Zack Keeney led the Interboro tackle brigade with 7 including a sack. McDevitt 6, Vinnie Kalodner and Forbes 5 while Meyers contributed 4 with one being for a loss.  Nick Falcucci numbered 11 for the Green Raiders including a TFL. Nicholas Becker, Nate Desmond  7 each , Kingsborough 6, and Alfred Manweah 5 – TFL  all pitched in.  Desmond along with Blaise Harris each had 2 TFL’s.   Nick Volpone went 3 for 3 on PAT kicks .

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