Saucon Valley Recaptures Bicentennial Trophy With Win Over Palisades.

Tagged under: District 3, News

Brian Ptashinski | October 27, 2018

HELLERTOWN- Last season the Saucon Valley Panthers walked off the Pirate Stadium turf in Kintnersville on the short end of a 33-6 score. Coming into the 2018 season finale they were refocused on capturing the Bicentenial Trophy and possibly solidfying a home game in the upcoming District XI 4A playoffs, something they have not done since 2004. When the final horn sounded the Panthers had themselves hard-earned 42-28 victory over their rivals from Palisades before packed Senior night crowd at M.E. Illick Stadium.

Behind the running attack of the District’s leading rusher Ian Csicsek, who gained 259 yards on 25 tallies and 4 scores. Saucon Valley was able to snap a two game losing streak and could put them as high as the 2 seed in the playoffs. Csisek has had six 200 yard rushing games this season and has accumulated 2,248 yards in 10 games.

Saucon Valley jumped out to a 14-0 lead on two Scicsek scores the first on a 13 yard run on the opening posession completing a 67 yard drive. After the Panthers stopped the Pirates on downs at the Panther 32. Scicsek scored from 9 yards out.

Palisades took advantage of a 61 yard kickoff return to the Saucon Valley 36. On first play from scrimmage Trey Gretzinger scored cutting the lead to 14-7. The Panthers also had a big return on the ensuing kickoff setting up shop at the Pirate 5 at the end of the first quarter.

Ryan Holub scored from a yard out making the score 21-7 in favor of the home team. The Pirates stayed within striking distance on their next drive going 66 yards culminating in a 28 yard pass from Ethan Brader to RJ Smith covering 28 yards cutting the lead to 21-14 at intermission.

Palisades received the second half kickoff and returned it out to near midfield. Brader completed the drive with an 8 yard run to tie the game at 21.

After an exchange punts, Saucon Valley got Csicsek back involved as he broke through the middle of the Pirate front line and dashed in from 48 yards out to regain the lead 28-21 late in the third quarter.

Ethan Brader tied up the game again in the final quarter with a 16 yard run completing an 80 yard drive. Dante Mahaffey put the Panthers back out in front at 35-28 with a 5 yard score. Then the Saucon Valley Defense came up big as on a fourth down and six, Palisades attempt came up about a yard short and the Panthers took over possession at the visitors 37.

Using their last timeouts on defense Palisades forced Saucon into a tough decision with about a minute left and facing a fourth down situation. The Panthers decided to go for it from the Pirate 31 instead of punting the ball. The ball was given to Csicsek as he churned downfield past the yard to gain, he kept grinding and spinning away from of a couple would-be tacklers and found his way to the end zone ending any chance for the Pirates to have a chance at a comeback.

“We were joking on the sidelines that he should have went down right there after getting the first down.” Saucon Valley coach Phil Sams said, “He spun around so much that he really scared us. That’s him.”

The Panthers will host a first round playoff game against a team to be determined Saturday night.

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