Penn-Trafford earns playoff bid, sails past Armstrong 42-7

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Annabelle Aquino | October 17, 2025

Penn-Trafford cruised to its fifth consecutive victory and secured a 5A Big East Conference playoff spot after dominating the Armstrong River Hawks 42-7 this Friday.

Penn-Trafford football players gather in a huddle before the game against Armstrong on Oct. 17. P-T won 42-7, earning a Class 5A WPIAL playoff spot.

P-T (8-1, 4-1) struggled offensively early on against Armstrong (3-6, 2-3) before pulling away with a 21-0 rally in the second quarter.

“The win really felt great. Coach preached all week about going out there and doing what we know how to do,” junior Nick Ponko said. “We started off a little slow, but then we started to pick it up and do what we were taught.”

Ponko earned back-to-back touchdowns in the second quarter, scoring off a pick-six and running more than 80 yards for another. 

The game was scoreless until late in the first quarter, when P-T senior Jake Briggs ran into the endzone after catching quarterback Nate Desmond’s pass for a 36-yard play. 

This gave the Warriors the momentum they had previously lacked offensively. Armstrong’s Max Zablocki intercepted a pass two minutes into the game, but the River Hawks failed to maintain this level of defense throughout the game.

After Jack Miller’s extra point, the Warriors continued to connect for more scores in the second quarter. Desmond threw a 27-yard pass into the hands of senior Tyler Boss, who rolled into the endzone. Miller’s extra point put the Warriors up 14-0 with 9:10 left in the second quarter.

Defensively, P-T held Armstrong to zero points in the first half. Ponko intercepted an Armstrong pass, running it back 50 yards for a Warrior touchdown halfway through the second quarter. Ponko scored again five minutes later, catching Desmond’s short pass and running 80 yards.

Armstrong had a scoring opportunity with a minute left, but their attempted field goal sailed to the left of the posts.

By halftime, P-T was shutting out the River Hawks 28-0.

“I think we need to come out a little faster than we did tonight. It was a little slow, but we picked it up,” senior Jamison Yurt said. “The good thing is we’re starting to click, and we’re peaking at the right time, which is most important.”

The third quarter was another low-scoring one. Less than two minutes in, Desmond hit junior Landyn Stikkel for a 25-yard touchdown, scoring the only points of the quarter. Heading into the fourth, the Warriors led 35-0.

It took until the final quarter, but Armstrong eventually scored a touchdown when quarterback Jaydon Oliver connected with receiver Quinn Olsen. Oliver, who also punted and kicked for the River Hawks, made the extra point.

Armstrong quarterback Jaydon Oliver prepares to take the snap against Penn-Trafford on Oct. 17.

P-T finished the game with a final touchdown by senior Nico Cox. Cox took the handoff from sophomore quarterback Cody Yacamelli and rushed 9 yards for another Warrior touchdown. Evan Sadler’s extra point boosted P-T to a dominating 42-7 victory. 

The Warriors are on a five-game winning streak, all with a 10-point margin of victory or higher.

“It feels good. We still have to lock down and do what we do every day, we have to keep coming to practice and playing hard and continue to play P-T football,” Briggs said.

P-T will play its final regular-season game at home against Latrobe next Friday. The Warriors are guaranteed a playoff spot, but if they defeat Latrobe, the Warriors will also have a first-round bye in the playoffs and not play on Halloween. Armstrong will also play at home against Franklin Regional next Friday.

All photos by Mia Williams

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