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Farrell Goes Back to Back @farrellfootball @BGMarauderFball Gallery included

Tagged under: District 10, District 6, Gameday Hub, News

| December 5, 2019

On a very windy Thursday afternoon at Hersheypark Stadium, the Farrell Steelers used a pop-up field goal by Brian Hilton Jr. in overtime to defeat the Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders 10-7 and win the PIAA Class A Championship for the second year in a row.  The title is their 4th as they won back to back gold in 1995 and 1996.

The defensive struggle saw the teams combine for barely 300 yards.  And it was turnovers and blocked kicks that led to scoring or the lack thereof.  Early in the second quarter, after a scoreless first stanza, Farrell converted a BG fumble into points.  Beginning at the Marauder 21, Anthony Stallworth ran 20 yards to the one.  Raymond Raver Jr. subsequently punched it in on a quarterback sneak the next play.  Then Brian Hilton Jr. kicked the point after to give Farrell the lead 7-0 at the 10:39 mark.

With the wind whipping around the way it was both teams eschewed the pass and mostly stuck with running the pigskin.  The game also evolved into a chess match trying to put the other squad into bad field position and then take advantage if they could.  Both teams averaged under 30 yards per punt and Guilfoyle came close to blocking a couple, actually getting a hand on one.

The Marauders finally took advantage of Farrell’s slow developing punts on high snaps when Jack Donoughe blocked one and had the presence of mind to scoop it up near the sideline and advance it fifteen yards to the Steeler five-yard line.  On a third and goal, Keegan Myrick scored on a one-yard run.  Then Deven Wyandt nailed the PAT to tie the game with 9:07 left in the game.

 

Farrell had a chance to win in regulation, getting the ball inside BG’s twenty-five, but penalties and a sack forced them to make a couple Hail Mary passes that were incomplete.

Overtime found the Marauders getting the ball first.  A three-yard run, a five-yard penalty, and a five-yard run put the ball at the seven.  On third down, Myrick got the direct snap out of the wildcat, faked a run into the line, and threw a jump pass to Andrew Yanoshak open in the end zone.  Just as the ball arrived into Yanoshak’s hands, a couple Steeler defenders knocked it away.  Guilfoyle’s attempt at a 23-yard field goal was blocked by Brian Hilton Jr. of all people.

Farrell ran three plays and gained five yards.  A time out by the Marauders to try and ice Hilton Jr. did not work as he calmed booted a high arching field goal that the wind blew back towards the playing field, but not enough as the kick barely made it over the crossbar.  At that instant, the Steelers and their faithful fans went into a frenzy, while the Marauders and their faithful shed a few tears.

“They had faith in me to kick the ball and I just had to go do it,” said Hilton Jr. when asked what went through his mind as he got ready to attempt his first actual game field goal.  He also complimented Bishop Guilfoyle as did his teammates and the Farrell coaching staff saying, “they were a good team, played great, and surprised us a little.”

Coach Anthony Pegues said his Farrell players and coaching staff dedicated their win to Jarrett Samuels who led the Steelers to the state title last year and developed health issues that led him to retire from coaching.  Pegues was the offensive coordinator on last year’s team.  “It’s gratifying for sure, but it’s all about the kids,” said Pegues when asked how he felt.  He also said it was more gratifying coaching a state championship team than playing as he did on those teams in the 90s that won.  “I just want to be a role model,” he stated.

The Guilfoyle defense held Farrell to 215 yards on 59 plays, but the Steeler defense did better, holding the Marauders to 103 yards on 46 plays.  Stallworth led all offensive players with 108 yards rushing and Jaden Harrison chimed in with 76 yards.  Myrick showed the way for BG with 77 yards rushing.  Farrell finishes the year with a record of 14-2, while Bishop Guilfoyle winds up 12-3.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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