Midd-West Takes Thriller Over Rams

Tagged under: District 4, District 6

Pa Football News | September 30, 2018

Tristan Klinefelter

This is the first time in which Penns Valley and Midd-West faced each other. This is also Midd-West’s first ever homecoming and it was a good one. One of the biggest moments of the game came in the late fourth quarter when Penns Valley quarterback Aaron Tobias connected with running back Ryan Ripka for a three-yard touchdown to put the game at 23-21 Midd West. Penns Valley converted the two-point conversion making it 23-23 with 1:47 left in the game. Overtime was forced in which Midd-West quarterback Marc Piccioni fought for the end zone for their first ever homecoming victory with a score of 30-29. Head coach Brad Hatter said: ” I am very proud, we have dealt with a lot of stuff over the past couple of weeks and fighting through adversity. There is no quit in them, they didn’t bend over and quit.” This showed throughout the whole game when running the ball got tough and their best rusher was taken out due to injury.

photo Jodi Ripka

The scoring in this game started early. On Penns Valley’s first drive they took the ball right down the field and quarterback Aaron Tobias found tight end Logan Snyder for the four-yard touchdown. The kick was good making it 7-0 Rams with 9:58 left to go in the first quarter. The very next drive Midd-West drove the ball right down the field and was capped off with an eleven-yard touchdown by Kameron Kline. The kick was good making the ball game 7-7 with 5:33 left in the first. This was the first touchdown scored by Kline, as the next Midd-West drive he took the ball sixty-three yards to the house. Kline was asked about his big run and he said: ” It was a big turn, I’m not even sure how I did it, I just wanted to keep moving forward.” This was a huge momentum swing that also gave Midd-West a 14-7 lead. This was a norm for the rest of the game as they just kept running the ball throughout the game. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the third quarter, Kline was injured and was forced out of the game. Midd-West lost their leading rusher in which he finished the game with 119 yards rushing. To finish the half Midd-West knocked in a field goal making it 17-7.

Quarterback Aaron Tobias led the Rams with 220 yards passing with 3 touchdowns.

To start the second half Midd-West received the ball and took it right to the end zone. Hunter Wolfey took the ball from twenty-four yards out making the game 23-7. The kick was blocked keeping the score 23-7. The third quarter was relatively quiet when it came to scoring points. However, there were multiple turnovers and sacks. Three possessions in a row there were fumbles, two by Penns Valley and one by Midd-West. This did not shake Penns Valley though as late in the fourth quarter they got a huge momentum shift. It started when Tobias connected with Snyder for forty yards down the right sideline. This put the game at 23-13 Midd-West. The Rams converted for the two-point conversion making the game 23-15.

photo Jodi Ripka

This is the point where the defense was key for the Rams. They stopped Midd-West the following drive but also forced them to use all their timeouts. Penns Valley got the ball back on the forty-eight-yard line.

A huge pickup of 35 from Tobias to receiver Cole Breon took the ball down to the three-yard line. This is where the score was tied up when Tobias found Ripka for the three-yard touchdown, but also the two-point conversion. Head coach Brad Hatter said: ” They had all the momentum heading into overtime.” Penns Valley got the ball first and Ripka took the ball from three yards out for his second score of the night, However, the extra point attempt was missed making the score 29-23. This put Midd-West on their backs, they had to score and make the field goal to win.

photo Jodi Ripka

Piccioni knew that and his leadership carried his team to victory. He pushed his way into the end zone and the kick was good winning the game for Midd-West. This is also Midd-West’s first ever homecoming and it ended with a win. After the game Coach Hatter said, ” It came down to the end they missed their field goal, we made ours that was the difference in the game”.  With this win, Midd-West moves to 3-2 on the season as Penns Valley moves to 3-3

Penns Valley will face Bellefonte @ Penns Valley on 10/5

Midd-West will face Nativity BVM @ Nativity BVM on 10/5

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