Balanced Rangers end Panthers season 41-13!

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Greg Ricupero | November 5, 2023

Balanced Rangers end Panthers season!

Playing in the Heritage Conference means facing tough opponents weekly.

It doesn’t really prepare you for a top flight passing attack. Ranger quarterback Nate Cornell completed 78 percentage of his passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Forest Hills went right down the field on their first possession and scored. A Cornell to Ben Harteis pass. The Panthers went three and out. The punt was blocked and return 18 yards for a touchdown by TJ Carroll. The Panthers who couldn’t afford to play from behind were down 14-0. But River Valley showed all year they can score and they have a stable of running backs. It was junior back Sam Yantis who had the big night 18 rushes for 186 yards.

Yantis went 38 yards to cut the Rangers lead in half. Forest Hills wasted no time getting it back to a two touchdown lead. Cornell hit his #1 receiver Chase Williamson for a touchdown. Williamson came into the game with 35 receptions and averaging over 17.5 yards a catch. Yantis came right back with an electrifying 64 yard touchdown run. The first quarter finally ended with the Rangers up 20-13. Forest Hills would control the second quarter scoring twice on touchdown runs by Mason Papinchak and Xander Richardson. Down three touchdowns at the half, things got worse for River Valley when quarterback Luke Woodring broke his ankle. My prayers are with Luke who it’s a great basketball player also and will obviously miss part or all of the season. Hartels would score his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter to finish the scoring. The total yardage was close but River Valley turnover it over an extra time and had the special teams mistake. The Rangers balanced offense was the difference (208 rushing 164 passing). It was the Panthers second playoff berth in three years since the school merger. Forest Hills will move on to play top seated Bald Eagle Area.

#5 FH 20- 14- 0- 7=41

#4 RV 13-   0-  0- 0=13

FH- Ben Harteis 12 pass from Nate Cornell xp Kaden Carpenter (7-0)

FH- T.J. Carroll 18 return of blocked punt xp Carpenter (14-0)

RV- Sam Yantis 38:run xp blk (14-6)

FH- Chase Williamson 17 pass from Cornell xp ng (20-6)

RV- Yantis 64 run xp Cole Heckathorn (20-13)

FH- Mason Papinchak 13 run xp ng (26-13)

FH- Xander Richardson 5 run 2pt Williamson pass from Richardson (34-14)

FH- Harteis 7 run xp Carpenter (41-14)

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