Penn-Trafford takes back the bell with a 32-13 win over Gateway

Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News

Mia Williams | October 5, 2024

Penn-Trafford running out

In the section-rivalry match-up between the Penn-Trafford Warriors and the Gateway Gators that took place on Oct. 4th the Warriors were able to take back the bell that they lost last year. The bell is a shared history between the decades long rivals where the winner gets to keep the bell at their school until the next year’s game as a prize for winning that year’s football game. This year Penn-Trafford was able to bring the bell back to their home after a 32-13 win.

The Warriors came out strong on defense forcing some incomplete throws by the Gators and a sack by standout senior Tasso Whipple forced Gateway to give the ball back. P-T was then quick in getting a few first downs allowing senior wide receiver Jack Weishaar to score the first touchdown of the night with a pass from senior quarterback Jonny Lovre. Senior Derek Carr then went in and scored the 2-point conversion putting Penn-Trafford up 8-0 with 5:43 left in the first.

Penn-Trafford’s Tyler Boss and Gateway’s Dyson Harper face off

Gateway offense wanted to answer back but a good P-T defense led by 5 ’11, 250 senior Stew Pfiel forced them to punt the ball away. The Gator’s defense answered right back with a sack by junior Craig Schultz and an interception by sophomore Jayden Stammer which ended the first quarter.

With P-T back on offense in the second Whipple got a long run getting the Warriors on the one-yard-line. This allowed for a rushing touchdown by Lovre and an extra point to be kicked successfully by sophomore Logan Hunter advancing Penn-Trafford’s lead to 15-0.

A solid run by Gator senior running back Amair Gans put his team less than 10 yards from the endzone but P-T’s defense was strong with a stop by sophomore Landyn Stikkel forcing Gateway to give the ball back at their own one-yard-line. This allowed for a long run by Whipple but P-T was not able to score during this drive giving the Gator’s the ball right back. A first down by Gateway made it seem like they put some numbers on the scoreboard but an interception by P-T junior Tyler Boss got P-T back on offense, ending the first half.

Gateway runs out

Gateway was strong coming out of halftime with a sack by senior Elsidro Bryant forcing P-T to attempt to kick for an extra point. The kick was blocked and then recovered by Gateway junior Carlos Diggs who ran it 83-yards down the field for the first Gator touchdown of the night. The extra point was then kicked successfully by James LoCoco to close the gap on the lead to 15-7.

The Warrior’s were then able to get the ball close to their end zone and looked as though they might score but some solid Gateway defense forced P-T to give the ball back. Whipple was able to secure an interception though putting Penn-Trafford back on offense which allowed P-T kicker, Jack Miller, to kick a field goal extending their lead to 18-7 to end the third quarter.

Gateway and Penn-Trafford line up

Heading into the final quarter P-T was looking to extend their lead which they did with a rushing touchdown by Carr and an extra point kicked by Hunter to make the P-T lead 25-7 with 7:52 left on the clock.

Penn-Trafford just kept putting the pressure on Gateway with a defense that forced a quick turnover allowing Weishaar to secure his second touchdown of the night with a made kick by Hunter making the lead 32-7 with 4:17 left.

Gateway attempted to answer back with a quick and long touchdown by Gans but there was just too little time left and Penn-Trafford secured their fifth win of the season with a final score of 32-13.

Penn-Trafford is now 5-2 and takes on Franklin Regional for a section match-up at home next Friday. Gateway is now 3-4 and will take on section rival Woodland Hills away next Friday. 

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