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Pine Richland comes from behind to take down Peters Township 20-14 GALLERY @PRRamsFootball @PRRamsTDClub@PaBackyard

Tagged under: District 7, Game Photos, Gameday Hub, News

| November 13, 2021

By Colin Rhodes

The WPIAL football playoffs continued Nov. 13 and included the 5A matchup between the Peters Township Indians and the Pine-Richland Rams. 

Both teams started off slow in the first quarter as neither could gain enough momentum over the other. This changed dramatically when Peters Township recovered a muffed punt by Pine-Richland to keep possession of the ball. Senior quarterback Sam Miller turned it into points with a 49-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Bryce Thompson to take the lead 7-0. 

Pine-Richland answered back in the second quarter, as junior quarterback Ryan Palmieri connected with senior wide receiver Alex Gochis for a touchdown from ten yards out. A penalty on the point-after attempt gave them the opportunity to go for two, which they took and failed to convert, leaving them still behind 7-6.

Peters Township scored soon after on a one-play drive, a 58-yard touchdown pass from Miller to Thompson for the second time of the night, extending the lead to 13 points. The Indians had the chance to extend it further before halftime, but senior kicker Andrew Massucci missed the 30+ yard attempt. The score would remain 14-6 going into halftime.

The third quarter saw the Rams offense give away two fumbles to the Indians, and the Rams defense stopping the Indians from turning the turnovers into points. Pine-Richland found the endzone for the second time with another Palmieri to Gochis touchdown pass, this one 21 yards long. The Rams went for two after the touchdown, but failed to convert again.

The momentum really went in Pine-Richland’s favor when Thompson coughed up the ball in the fourth quarter and Pine-Richland recovered it. Set up with good field position, Palmieri got the Rams into position to score and ran the ball in himself from seven yard out for the touchdown. This time, the two-point attempt was good, and the Rams took the lead 20-14.

Peters Township had one last chance to score in this game, as Miller led a drive that made it all the way to the Pine-Richland 15. Unfortunately for the Indians, three straight incomplete passes and a sack on fourth down meant there would not be a game-winning drive. Pine-Richland won the game 20-14.

Palmieri was the star of the game for Pine-Richland, completing 14 passes on 21 attempts for 166 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 118 yards on 19 attempts with one touchdown. 

The Rams will face the Penn-Trafford Warriors in next week’s playoff matchup on Nov. 19. The Indians, meanwhile, finish their season and look forward to the next.

 

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