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Imhotep too much for Delaware Valley as Panthers advance to PIAA East Semifinal

Tagged under: District 12, District 2, Gameday Hub, pfn, Playoffs

| November 25, 2023

The deeper teams go into the State playoffs, the more hype ensues. Much was made of the long ride for Imhotep Charter (12-0, D12 5A Champions) as they made their way up to Delaware Valley (10-3, D2 5A Champions) on a 3 1/2 hour trip. That long trip didn’t seem to affect the Panthers much though.

Imhotep Charter overcame 2 early turnovers in a tight first half, and the Panther defense came up with 3 interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown in the second half as they defeated Delaware Valley 31-7.

Delaware Valley won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half. Panther DB Kenny Woseley took the opening kickoff but fumbled the catch, recovered it and ran and then fumbled again and recovered it at the Panther 23. Sensing some disruption, the Warrior defense immediately applied pressure on Panther QB Mikal Davis and on 3rd-and-11 from the 22 he threw an interception to Warrior DB Ryder Machado who returned it to the Panther 31.

5 plays later, Delaware Valley RB Justin Kalitsnik rumbled 19 yards to the goal line but fumbled there and the ball was fortunately recovered in the end zone by Warrior TE Kyle Chabak for a touchdown. With 8:56 to go in the 1st quarter, Delaware Valley had a 7-0 lead.

The Panthers started their next drive at their own 16, and Davis started things off with short passes to WR Kahir Hood and TE Johann Hennigan, gaining enough yards for a 1st down at the 37. Disaster then struck again as Davis then threw another interception, this time to Warrior DB Jackson Corrie. Unfortunately, the Warriors only made it to the 17 yard line and turned the ball over on downs. Imhotep made the most of it though, as on the very next play Davis broke free on a scramble and ran it 83 yards for the score. With 4:54 to go in the 1st quarter, the score was knotted at 7.

The Warriors started their next drive at the 14 but only made it to the 33 before punting it away. The Panthers then started at the 32 and drove into Warrior territory as the 1st quarter ended and the 2nd quarter began. On 4th-and-11 and the Warrior 41, Davis threw it to Hennigan but he couldn’t hold on because Kalitsnick hammered him and the ball fell incomplete and was turned over to the Warriors on downs. The trading of possessions continued until the Panthers drove down to the Warrior 14 with 39 seconds left in the half, and a 30-yard field goal was good to give the Panthers a 10-7 lead at the half.

Delaware Valley received the 2nd half kickoff, and a nice return by Machado got them out to their own 33. They gained yardage down to the Panther 43, but on 3rd-and-12 QB Logan Olsommer threw an interception to Woseley at the Panther 27. The Warrior defense stood up to the challenge, as 6 plays by the Panthers only gained 9 yards. On 3rd-and-13 from the 36, Davis fumbled as he was sacked by LB Aiden Black and the ball was recovered by DL Matt Cammarano of the Warriors.

With some new life, the Warrior offense drove down to the Panther 19. On 2nd-and-10 Olsommer threw it to Black who was hit immediately and fumbled and the ball was recovered by CB Mikel Pierce who returned it 85 yards for a touchdown. With 4:06 to go in the 3rd quarter, the Panthers increased their lead at 17-7.

The Warriors weren’t able to do anything on their next drive and punted it away. The Panthers then struck again immediately on 2nd-and-6 from the Warrior 38 with Davis hitting WR Kareem Haqq for a 38-yard TD for a 24-7 lead with 1:54 left in the 3rd quarter.

The next Warrior drive covered only 11 yards and ended when Panther DB Willie Norris intercepted an Olsommer pass at the Panther 41. Imhotep only gained 15 yards on their ensuing drive that ended early in the 4th quarter when Machado intercepted a pass from Davis at the Warrior 35.

With time starting to run short, Delaware Valley went for it on 4th down at their own 43 but RB Mike Iuzzulino was stopped for no gain and the Panthers took over on downs. Trying to drain some time off the clock, the Panthers used a few runs but were pushed back by 2 false start penalties and a holding penalty as well. On the 4th down punt attempt Iuzzulino made a great play and blocked the punt, and the Warriors took over at the Panther 36. On the very next play, Olsommer lateralled to Machado who threw it deep down the right sideline where it was picked off again by Norris at the Panther 7. The Panthers then sealed it when RB Syeer Coleman broke a tackle and scampered 82 yards for another score, giving the Panthers a 31-7 lead and sealing the win.

Imhotep Charter improved to 13-0 and there will be a battle of Panthers next week as they face the Strath Haven Panthers in the East Semifinal.

 

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