Keystone Oaks Outlasts Apollo-Ridge 21-14 in WPIAL 2A Clash
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News, Podcasts
Nate Grella | November 6, 2022
By Ethan Spozarski
The Keystone Golden Eagles defeated the Apollo Ridge Vikings 21-14 on Friday night to advance to the quarter final round of the WPIAL playoffs.
The scoring started quickly when Apollo Ridge scored on their opening drive in just three plays.
3 plays is all it took for @ApolloRidge to get the games FIRST TD!!
Senior Nick Crucci with the TD Run
7-0 Vikings lead 1st || 10:37 @PFNBackyard @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/7Nnndxy4qG— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 4, 2022
However, Keystone Oaks would retaliate with a score of their own on a long five minute and thirty five second drive.
NICK BUCKLEY WITH THE HALF-YARD TD SCORE for @KOGoldenEagles
7-7 Tie 1st || 5:02@PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/OzxIXuTrIo
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 4, 2022
Senior QB Nick Buckley threw for 210 yards and had a passing and rushing touchdown.
“We all have a sickness right now, but we battled through that,” Buckley said. “We all play for each other, great to see us win.”
Following the opening drives no one would score a touchdown until late in the second quarter. Leading up to that however the Golden Eagles would have 2x 45-yard TD passes taken back due to penalties.
2-straight 45+ yard TD plays by @KOGoldenEagles have been taken back by penalties…fans and coaches are NOT happy @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 4, 2022
Keystone Oaks would break the scoring drought. The drive started off an interception from Jack Hrivnak.
JACK HRIVNAK WITH THE INTERCEPTION for @KOGoldenEagles
7-7 tied 2nd || 1:43 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 4, 2022
The touchdown was scored by Anthony Stribling who ripped the ball out of Buckley’s hands to get the touchdown.
For the first time since the first two drives of the game WE HAVE A TD!! Anthony Stribling literally rips the ball from his QB and take sit in himself!! @KOGoldenEagles
14-7 Golden Eagles 2nd || 0:16 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/1UMS9rGpXV
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 5, 2022
Buckley remained confident in his team, especially with his running back.
“I said it before, I’ll say it again we got the best running back in all of the WPIAL,” Buckley said.
Senior running back Shawn Reick would eclipse 1,000 yards on the season and rush for 225 yards on the night as well.
Apollo Ridge began to threaten, but got stopped on the Golden Eagles seven-yard line on a fourth down.
@KOGoldenEagles GETS A 4th Down stop of their own at their own 7-yard line!!
14-7 Golden Eagles 3rd || 4:42 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/7imZQt9DEM
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 5, 2022
Two plays later, the Vikings forced a fumble, leading to a Nick Curci rushing touchdown.
NICK CRUCI gets his 2ND TD of the night! @ApolloRidge
14-14 tied 3rd || 1:06 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/k8BlFoElJl
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 5, 2022
The offensive stalemate continued until halfway through the fourth quarter when Buckley threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Clinton Robinson.
56-YARD TO THE HOUSE FROM BUCKLEY TO CLINTON ROBINSON @KOGoldenEagles
21-14 Golden Eagles 4th || 7:40 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/AvrGHd0LZ6
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 5, 2022
That would cement the Golden Eagles victory and advance to the quarter final round of the WPIAL playoffs. Keystone Oaks is set to take on Sto – Rox next week with a date and time TBD.
“We want that…we want that rematch,” Buckley said. “We’re pumped and ready for that game.”
KEYSTONE OAKS HAS DEFEATED APOLLO RIDGE!!
Final Score:@ApolloRidge 14@ko_goldeneagles 21
KO will take on Sto – Rox next week (place and time TBD) MAKE SURE TO STAY FOR THE POSTGAME INTERVIEW!!
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 5, 2022
Postgame Interview/Player Of the Game: QB Nick Buckley: @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/20Z0cmdkBW
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) November 5, 2022
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