Penn Wood Survives Close Game @Penn_WoodFB @AParkFootball

Tagged under: District 1, News

Tristan Klinefelter | March 13, 2021

The Penn Wood Patriots and Academy Park Knights kicked off their 2021 Spring campaign Saturday afternoon in a hard-fought game that would come down to the final minute with Penn Wood sealing the game with a Christian Hunt interception. For the Patriots it was a battle on the ground as Malik Brooks and Jordin Jones combined for 43 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns. For the Knights Senior quarterback, Anthony Rodriguez finished the game 14-28 with two touchdowns and an interception. 

Both teams entered Saturday’s game with a limited amount of practice and it showed. Throughout the game, there were multiple penalties and fumbles. Penn Wood coach Ato Troop said after the game “We need to continue to emphasize on the little things. I knew it would be sloppy but I’m just proud of the fight our guys had.”  

The Knights would get the first break of the game after a fourth-down punt. The Patriots fumbled the punt and the Knights recovered at the 25-yard line. But, the Knights wouldn’t be able to convert and on fourth down, Rodriguez hit his receiver but the Patriots forced the fumble and recovered the ball at the 10-yard line. 

The Patriots had a chance at points but after a 70 yard rush by Jones resulting in a touchdown was called back the Patriots were forced to punt. This was just one of four touchdowns called back on the day for the Patriots. Jones commented on his long run adding “I was upset, it was a hard-fought score and I was tired when I got there. I was mad.” After a bad punt, the Knights took over possession on the Patriots’ 20-yard line. Four plays later Rodriguez would find receiver Eric Willis for a 25-yard touchdown. The Point after attempt was good, giving the Knights a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. 

The Patriots would come close to scoring on their following possession. Brooks would find his way to the end zone from 24 yards out but it was called back after a holding penalty. The Patriots would turn the ball over on fourth down after a Knights sack. The Knights would fumble the ball on their next drive and this time Brooks was able to find the endzone. Brooks would scamper in from eight yards out with 58 seconds to go in the first half. The two-point conversion was no good making the score 7-6 Knights. 

Late in the third quarter, the Patriots threatened and Jones took the ball 30 yards for the touchdown. But, it was called back once again. This didn’t phase the Patriots as just a few plays later Brooks would go in from three yards out. On the two-point, conversion quarterback Jason Kempf rolled out and tossed the ball to Mike Price. This gave the Patriots a 14-7 lead with 2:17 to go in the third quarter. The Knights’ following drive would end with another miscue, this time by way of a fumble. However, for the Knights this time the Patriots couldn’t get any points. 

To start the fourth quarter neither team could find an offensive groove. Late in the fourth quarter, the Knights had possession and were faced with a fourth down and short. Willis would take the ball 24 yards on a fake punt which set up the Knights on the 16-yard line. Just a few plays later Rodriguez would find receiver Jalen Allen for the touchdown. The point-after attempt was no good making the score 14-13 Patriots with just 2:44 to go in the game.  The Patriots would seal the game with a Christian Hunt interception with a little over a minute to play in the game.  

The Academy Park Knights fall to 0-1 on their spring campaign and look to bounce back next week as they face Harry S Truman next Friday and 7 p.m. For the Penn Wood Patriots, they advance to 1-0 and will look to take down Interboro next Saturday at 1 p.m.

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