Parkland Punches Ticket to District XI Championship Game With Win Over Northampton.
Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn, Playoffs
Brian Ptashinski | November 11, 2022
Trojans advance to District XI 6A Title Game With Strong Second Half Effort and Sets Up rematch With Freedom Patriots.
NORTHAMPTON- Parkland came into Thursday night’s District XI 6A semi-final contest with Northampton, the healthiest they have been all year and have posted a 5-1 record since starting out 2-3 once the trio of quarterback Luke Spang, and running back Trey Tremba along with Nakhi Bullock who have missed games because of injuries. Last week Nazareth was on the radar and the Blue Eagles fell 42-14. This week it was undefeated Northampton Konkrete Kids and a shot to get to that title game after jumping out to a 10-0 lead early then nursing a 10-7 lead at intermission, the Trojan offense got rolling in the second half outscoring the K-Kids 21-6 en route to a 31-13 win before a packed house at Al Erdosey Stadium.
Parkland struck on their opening drive as they took possesion in Northampton territor and five plays later on a fourth-and-two Tremba went off the right side and cruised into the end zone from 33 yards out making it 7-0 with just over two minutes played. Gryffin Mistifer connected on the PAT.
33YD @TreyTremba TD for @PHSTrojansFB on 4th and 2. 9:58 left 1st quarter 7-0 over @KonkreteKids @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/U4ksG1sacc
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
Mitsifer added to the lead with a 37 yard field with 5:19 with 5:19 left on the second Trojan possession after forcing a Konkrete Kids punt.
37yd FG Gryffin Mitstifer for @PHSTrojansFB 5:19 left 1st Trojans up 10-0 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/tQ2ldFfIsV
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
In the second quarter, Northampton caught a break as with the Trojans back up in the shadows of their own end zone Bullock coughed up a hand-off near the sidelines and Northampton recovered at the six. With just 32 seconds left AJ Slivka punched it in from a yard out to cut the lead to 10-7 as the teams headed off for the locker room.
1yd @aj_slivka09 TD for @KonkreteKids with :32 till half @PHSTrojansFB 10-7 @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/Nr2QKHfai2
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
Northampton received the second half kickoff but had trouble all night with bad snaps, four times to be exact either led to a turnover or 3rd and long situations that the offense just could not convert on. The K-Kids could not sustain a drive to take control of the game.
Parkland then opened up a 17-7 lead as Spang dropped a perfect pass over the cornerback and in front of the safety to Tremba for a nifty 19 yard score with 7:03 left in the third quarter.
19yd TD pass @LukeSpang7 to @TreyTremba @PHSTrojansFB 7:03 left 3rd quarter 17-7 @PaFootballNews @69SportsBT pic.twitter.com/7FNrY0eN3g
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
The knock on Northampton was even though they came into the game unbeaten, they had played mostly a EPC North schedule, but did have wins against both Bethlehem Catholic(6-5) 31-21 and Whitehall(6-5)42-7. Northampton used the ball control offense behind the running of Caden Henritzy and Slivka and quarterback Antonino Russo to keep the game in reach, but the speed of Parkland proved to be too much down the stretch.
With 10:15 left in the contest, Spang hit a wide open Bullock down the sidelines for a spectacular 70 yard score to extend the lead to 24-7.
70yd TD pass @LukeSpang7 to @nakhibullock_10 for @PHSTrojansFB 10:15 left 24-7 Trojans lead @PaFootballNews @69SportsBT pic.twitter.com/XLgGjOgCwZ
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
Tremba then would show off his speed with a 42 yard jaunt with 7:42 left and an 31-7 lead on the first play following another Northampton punt.
42yd TD @TreyTremba for @PHSTrojansFB score 7:26 left 31-7 lead for the Trojans @PaFootballNews @69SportsBT pic.twitter.com/eiBPPY6aYz
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
Slivka would close out scoring for the game as he found his way to the end zone from nine yards out with 3:21 left. An onside kick attempt failed and Parkland was able to run out the clock.
9yd @aj_slivka09 TD for @KonkreteKids with 3:21 left @PHSTrojansFB 31-13. @PaFootballNews @69SportsBT pic.twitter.com/3REOUWfaFs
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
The win allows the 8-4 Trojans to meet up with defending District XI champion Freedom Patriots(10-2), who defeared Emmaus Thursday night 28-27 at EPSD Stadium. Parkland handed Freedom a 21-13 loss back on September 9th. Date, time and location is TBA next week.
My post-game interview with @TreyTremba of Parkland after defeating @KonkreteKids 31-13 @PIAADistrictXI 6A playoff @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/9hiydAVX3k
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
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My post-game interview with @nakhibullock_10 of @PHSTrojansFB after the Trojans defeated @KonkreteKids 31-13 @PIAADistrictXI 6A playoff @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/i9XyM1M3nd
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
My post-game interview with @nakhibullock_10 of @PHSTrojansFB after the Trojans defeated @KonkreteKids 31-13 @PIAADistrictXI 6A playoff @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/i9XyM1M3nd
— Brian Ptashinski (@BPtashinski) November 11, 2022
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