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Raptors Capture PIAA Eastern Conference Championship Over Holy Cross. @ExecutiveRaptor

Tagged under: District 11, District 2, Gameday Hub, News

| November 7, 2021

 

Raptors Capture Eastern Conference 1A/2A Title in Inaugural First Season.

ALLENTOWN- The first season as a football program at the Executive Education Charter School in Allentown, was a challenge to say the least. Finding any patch of grass to practice on or in the parking lot or gymnasium any where there was room became their practice facility. As the season began, finding an opponent or place to conduct the game also became a challenge. Through all of it though, the Raptors stayed the course to an impressive 5-5 record and a berth into the Eastern Conference 1A/2A Championship game Saturday afternoon against Holy Cross Crusaders from Dunmore in District 2 at Scotty Wood Stadium at Muhlenberg College. The Raptors were up up for the challenge as the dominated the Crusaders 34-8 to finish the year at to end the season at 6-5.

Holy Cross early proved to be a formidable opponent in the contest as they methodically moved the ball down field on their opening possession taking nearly seven minutes off the clock as workhorse running back planted the ball in the end zone from 23 yards out on a fourth-and-three play to give his team a 8-0 lead with 5:08 left in the first quarter.

That lead would only last till the ensuing kickoff as return specialist Dontae Oquendo picked up the bouncing ball at his twenty yard line and weaved his way down field en route to an 80 yard return and tying the score at eight with the two-point conversion.

Executive grabbed the lead for good as quarterback Darmel Lopez fired a 20 yard pass to receiver Damaurian Jones for a twenty yard score with under a minute to paly in the opening quarter, the point-after attempt was no good leaving the score at 14-8.

Neither team would then put anymore points on the board as bith teams dealt with numerous penalties and stalled drives during the half. The Raptors went for broke with under a minute left in the first half as Lopez flipped a pass in the flat to Mayson Terrell, who avoided several tacklers down the sidelines for a 50 yard score to make the score 22-8 at the half.

Holy Cross tried to use their ball control offense, to keep the much faster and athletic Raptors at bay, as it did work early but eventually the big plays capabilities kept the gameplan neutralized, As the Raptors extended to a 28-8 lead nearing the end of the third quarter when Lopez found Jyhmeik Roman in single coverage on a fly right down the sidelines at the Crusaders thirty, Roman cruised in the end zone as the clock hit all zero’s at the end of the third quarter to make it 28-8 Raptors lead.

Executive put an exclamation on the afternoon as Oquendo took a toss sweep from Lopez and turned up the sidelines for a 27 yard jaunt with 10_12 left in the game making the score 34-8 to close out the scoring.

Lopez, a Junior threw for over 200 yards and the three scores and rushed for over 50 yards in the win on just eight carries. Here is what he had to say after the win.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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