Pennridge Punches Ticket to District 1 6A Title with Gutsy Win Over Coatesville
Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs
Cody Brady | November 15, 2025
Pennridge v Coatesville TV by PAFootball Newsdotcom
The opening kickoff of the third quarter was popped along the far sideline, as Coatesville was due to receive, trailing 17-14. However, Nate Derstine made a sliding grab to secure the ball and give the Rams the ball on the Coatesville 35. Nine plays later, after chewing away half the quarter, Noah Keating threw one over the middle on 4th & Goal at the 1 for Blake Landherr for what would be the game winning score in a 17-14 Pennridge victory.
The first quarter of this one was mostly a defensive slugfest. The teams combined for 38 yards and neither crossed midfield. That is, until Coatesville broke through. On 3rd & 17, Matt “Buggy” Ortega Jr. scrambled to his right and launched one down the field for Terry Wiggins. Wiggins outran defenders for the 77-yard touchdown and the Red Raiders took a 7-0 lead with 1:10 to go.
On the next Raiders drive, Andre Watson took the ball 30 yards on the first play, and it appeared they were going to benefit from a pennridge late hit as well. However, Coatesville began to see yellow, as a holding call brought the play back. On the night, Coatesville would end up penalized 15 times for 140 yards.
A Coatesville defensive pass interference call moved Pennridge into Raiders territory, but the defensive held tough and forced a 4th & 5 punt. The Rams pinned Coatesville at their own 3. Two plays later, Will Dougherty blasted his way into the backfield and wrapped up Watson for a safety. Pennridge was on the board, trailing 7-2 with 5:11 to go in the half.
Pennridge then took advantage of their next possession. Starting at the Coatesville 48, Noah Keating dropped back and threw a short pass to Ryan Rowe. Rowe busted it down the sideline to the end zone for the 48-yard touchdown. Just like that, Pennridge was on top 10-7 with 4:56 to play before intermission.
The Rams defense stood tall on the next Coatesville drive, as Brody Bromgen broke through the line untouched to tag Ortega. A Pennridge personal foul after they punted the ball back gave Coatesville one more shot near midfield with :30 to go. But Chase Clontz picked off the long pass to send the teams to the break.
Coatesville was due to receive the ball, but the kickoff got away from them and Nate Derstine kept the Pennridge momentum going with his sliding grab at the Raiders 35. It took the Rams nine plays to go 35 yards, but on 4th & Goal, Landherr made the touchdown catch, pushing the lead to 17-7.
Coatesville countered just one play later, when Andre Watson accelerated through the line for a 60-yard score. The Red Raiders were back in it, down 17-14 with 5:56 to go in the third.
The defenses were stingy the rest of the way. Pennridge got into Coatesville territory on their ensuing drive, but were forced to punt on 4th & 10. Coatesville took over at its own 20 and also punted on 4th & 10.
The Rams began the fourth quarter at the Raiders 45. On a 4th & 7 from the 29, though, Trevor Picciotti came up short for a turnover on downs. Pennridge got the ball right back, though, when Ortega fired deep over the middle. Sean Leuthe had position on the intended receiver and leaped to make the big interception.
Picciotti picked up 16 yards and a face mask moved the ball as close as the Coatesville 28. However, Pennridge came up short on a fourth down incompletion to give Coatesville another chance.
With 6:10 left, the Raiders took over at their own 28. A nice run by Watson was reversed on a block in the back, and ultimately, they came up short on a 4th & 1 quick snap. Coatesville got the ball back one more time with 1:59 to go and Ortega completed a 46-yard pass to Elias Hanson, flipping field position. With time ticking down, Coatesville set up shop on the Pennridge 44, needing only a field goal to tie the game. On the very next play, Brody Blomgren came around the right side, untouched again, for the sack of Ortega.
It all came down to a fourth down pass from the Pennridge 40. Ortega dropped back and had a receiver out in the flat, but the ball was mishandled and dropped, giving Pennridge the turnover on downs and the semifinal victory.
While Andre Watson reached the 100-yard mark on 13 carries and a touchdown, Pennridge’s defense often got the Raiders off the field quickly and did not allow Coatesville’s playmakers to beat them, save for two big plays. The three plays of over 20 yards mentioned here were the only three of the game for the Raiders. It was much the same for Pennridge, as the 48-yard touchdown pass to Rowe was the only play longer than 20 yards. While neither side played close to a clean game, Pennridge was only flagged seven times to Coatesville’s 15 penalties.
Pennridge now advances to the District 1 6A championship game. They will host North Penn. After the Rams bested the Knights 34-10 back in September, North Penn will be hungry for revenge, but Pennridge hopes history repeats itself.
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