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Penn Wood Says Goodbye to Their 18 Game Losing Streak

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News

| October 15, 2022

BOOTHWYN PA – Once again, a Del Val matchup fell upon the Delaware Valley. Chichester was hungry and ready to find the win column on their Homecoming game. Penn Wood, was starving, as every game they persevered, looking for a win. This time they finally found one. Game after game, they could not find that. That was the case for 18 straight games. March 26, 2021, was the last time Penn Wood would touch victory, on this same field, against the same opponent, Chichester. It was not an option for them to lose as they claimed their first win in three seasons, winning 32-30.

Sun-beating down, but a cool breeze blowing in, was perfect football weather. Chichester won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. It was Penn Wood’s ball to start the game. As most people still were getting settled, the opening kick-off soared into the air. Back to receive for Penn Wood was Kivaleon Clarke, the ball dropped into his hands, and he took off. Wasting no time, realistically wasting only 14 seconds, he cut back and forth, finding himself way past the 50 yard-line it was not much longer until he crossed the goal-line. It was about an 80-yard opening kick-off touchdown return. Penn Wood followed up with a 2pt attempt, but it was no good. Penn Wood went up 6-0 only 14 seconds into the game.

A struggling Chichester offense would take the field with QB Walter Jones IV. He made sure to change the script while all season Chichester struggled to score one touchdown, Jones led his team to a 30 point game. A fumble by Shawn Bedwell on the first play would be recovered by Penn Wood and set the Patriots up in the redzone. The next play, Penn Wood would cough up the ball, and Chichester would recover. In a wild series of fumbles, Chichester would find themselves back with the ball in their hands, but a three and out would force a punt. DT Eyan Thomas of Chichester continued to take business, as he does every week. The leader in PIAA D1 tackles (61), continued to find himself wrapping up players and forcing negative gains. Penn Wood prepared as they stayed away from his side of the field. The rest of the first half would highlight no plays as the ball stayed mostly on the ground. Penn Wood would stay on top to be up 6-0 at the end of the first.

Right out of the gate, the second quarter would begin with a Walter Jones pass to Erskine Wilson. Wilson would go to turn upfield and into the endzone to put Chichester on top after a good PAT by Dom Nardini. Chichester would hold a 7-6 lead. On the next drive, Penn Wood would be forced to punt. Eyan Thomas was ready as he got past his matchup and stuffed the punt. Chichester would find themselves short-field on Penn Wood’s 23. On the goalline, Penn Wood would force a fumble and recover it to shutdown a possibility of a Chichester score. That did not sit well with Erskine Wilson as he would pick the ball off in between the numbers and take it to the house for six. With a good PAT, Chichester found themselves at a decent 14-6 lead. A few minutes later, Penn Wood’s Marques Sarkor, seeking revenge, would take it in for a touchdown. With a 2pt attempt that was no good, Penn Wood closed the gap, now only down 14-12.

With just a minute left in the half, Chichester would find themselves in FG range and allowed their kicker Dom Nardini to nail one between the uprights, stretching their lead to 17-12. With many thinking, that was all she wrote till after the half, Penn Wood struck back. A 20-second drive would end in the endzone for a Penn Wood touchdown. It would close out the half with Penn Wood on top 18-17.

At halftime Chichester Alum and NFL star, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson was honored for his career. With his statue put up in Marcus Hook, it was nothing but smiles for him. With his 3x Pro Bowl career and record-breaking college career at Widener College, the fruits of his labor paid off. Athletic Director, John Smerecky, presented Johnson with a helmet after the crowd applauded him for his life achievements. Johnson still holds 28 school, game, season, and career records. During his time at Widener, he shattered no less than nine all-time NCAA marks and 12 Middle Atlantic Conference records.

Athletic Director, John Smerecky presents Billy “White Shoes” Johnson with a helmet.

The second half began, and both teams were eager to play the game. Chichester started with the ball but quickly punted it to Penn Wood. That began a back-fourth of 3 and-out drives and drives that barely moved 15 yards. It was not until the latter half of the third quarter that action would begin. Chichester would find themselves on the one after trading some words and punches from both teams. Walter Jones IV would keep it for a QB sneak and punch in a touchdown giving Chichester a 23-18 lead at the end of the third. A 2pt attempt was no good.

Penn Wood still had not forgotten about the winless times they have had. With that in mind, they went pedal to the medal with one final quarter left. A FG attempt would open up the fourth for Chichester. Penn Wood, did not have any plans on watching that ball take flight, blocking the attempt and setting up a short field for the offense. Even with Eyan Thomas recording back-to-back tackles, Penn Wood made their way inside the five. Mike Keene of Penn Wood would give them a touchdown, followed by a Marques Sakor 2pt conversion that would give them a 26-23 lead with 7:43 left in the fourth.

Penn Wood’s RB/DB Auron Stevens.

A Chichester drive to follow that touchdown up would end in a 4th and 9 situation. The FG unit marched on, and Penn Wood blocked yet another FG. It would begin a Penn Wood drive that looked like it could drain enough clock to keep them a safe place to win it. Chichester’s defense wanted a chance to win it and did that by clawing the ball out for a fumble recovery. That fumble recovery would allow Walter Jones to connect to Erskine Wilson again for a touchdown. Another PAT is good and puts Chichester on top 30-26 with 3:55 left in the game. Penn Wood’s Auron Stevens, just seconds later, would run the ball across midfield past the 40, the 30, the 20, and the 10, for a touchdown! To no avail, the 2pt attempt was no good, just giving Penn Wood a small 32-30. lead. That would be all they needed though, as their defense would come up with two big sacks to force a 4th and 16. Chichester would go for it but fall short of the line of gain and turn it over. Penn Wood would drain the rest of the clock to celebrate their first win in 568 days.

Penn Wood erases the donut from their record, improving to 1-7 (1-1*). They will look to continue their season with another Del Val win next week against the 2-6 (1-1*) Academy Park Knights. Chichester, on the other hand, now has a record of 1-7 (0-2*), but they fall, not improve. The Eagles hope to pull off a huge-upset on the road next week against the 7-1 (2-0*) Chester Clippers. As I say, anything can happen in Del Val.

* denotes Del Val record

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