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Defensive Stand Earns Central Catholic Coveted Win Over Parkland. @acchs_football @PHSTrojansFB

Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn

| September 26, 2021

Allentown Central Catholic Needed All 48 Minutes To Pin First Loss on Rival Parkland In Key EPC South Contest.

ALLENTOWN- Football is a game of inches, no more was that statement more prevalent than on Saturday night at historic J. Birney Crum Stadium as the Allentown Central Catholic Vikings held on to a 14-7 victory over previously unbeaten Parkland Trojans on the last play of the game as a possible game-tying pass went off Trojan receiver and fell harmlessly to the turf preserving the win.

The game started on a positive note for the visitors, as the Vikings attempted a surprise onside kick, that was recovered by Central Catholic. But, it was determined the ball did not go the necessary ten yards and Parkland took possession at the Viking 48. On the first play from scrimmage Nico Medlar took a short pass from quarterback Luke Spang and sprinted to the end zone to make it 7-0 with Gryffin Mistifer connecting on the point-after with just ten seconds in the contest.

Central Catholic, ranked ninth in the state in the 4A classification by PafootballNews.com, then went on a 14 play 96 yard drive late in the opening quarter and capped the drive off with a three yard score by tailback Travis Foster at the 1:43 mark to knot the game at seven as Luke Myers added the PAT.

That score would hold up at halftime as, Parkland, who came into the game the only team in the EPC South without a loss and ranked 10th in the 6A state rankings, would miss a 25 yard field goal attempt on the last play before intermission. Central Catholic also missed on a 30 yard attempt earlier in the quarter.

The second half was much of the same, as neither team could take advantage of turnovers and missed opportunities, as both teams had field goal chances but could not connect as Central Catholic missed from 40 yards out and Parkland not being able to connect from 25 yards.

Following the Vikings missed field goal, the Trojans took over at their own 20 with 3:40 left in the game and advanced the ball out past the thirty, but that is when Foster made his presence felt in the defensive side, as he picked off a Spang pass and got some key blocks weaving his way 42 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 2:22 on the clock.

However, Parkland wasn’t yet finished, as Spang moved his team down to the Central Catholic two yard line. On the drive he connected with a fifteen yard completion to Andrew Khalife for 15 yards on a fourth-and-three, then consecutive passes covering 13 and 24 yards respectively with just a 1.5 seconds left a five yard penalty moved the Trojans back to the seven. On the last play, Sprang tried a fade to the back of the end zone, but just went off the fingertips of his receiver and the horn sounded and Central Catholic celebrated the victory, after coming off a 30-7 loss to Easton.

It doesn’t get any easier for either one of these teams heading into the second half of the regular season of the meat-grinder known as the EPC. Central Catholic(4-1) will travel to BASD Stadium in Bethlehem Friday to face Freedom(3-2) who is coming off a big 38-21 win over Nazareth. Parkland(3-1) will host (3-1) Whitehall, who had the weekend off, being their game with Easton was cancelled due to Covid issue at Easton.

Here are the thoughts of both Allentown Central Catholic Coach Tim McGorry and the star of the game Travis Foster about this game and what lies ahead for their team.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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