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Pennsylvania Outlasts Maryland in Classic Big 33 Game.

Tagged under: Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| May 29, 2023

Dramatic Late-Game Comeback Gives Pennsylvania Hard Fought Win Over Maryland Sunday Night.

HARRISBURG- Over the past few Big 33 Football Games between Maryland and Pennsylvania there has been very little flair for the dramatic in the contest, however that changed Sunday night at Rocco Ortenzio Stadium at Bishop McDevitt High School. The Maryland squad overcame a 10 point deficit to take a late fourth quarter lead only to see Pennsylvania score a last minute touchdown to capture the victory 31-27 before a packed house.

The Pennsylvania eleven jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter as they scored on their first two possessions as running back Jahmil Perryman ripped off a 52 yard touchdown run followed by a Ben Sosnowski 43 yard field goal and it looked like another Pennsylvania rout was on.

The Maryland squad had different ideas however, on their next possession as Bryce Cox found an opening around the edge and took it in from fifteen yards to cut the lead to 10-7.After an exchange of punts, Maryland could not sustain a drive and were forced to kick the ball back to Pennsylvania that is where Westinghouse’s Sincere Smith took the punt at his own 34 yard line and weaved his way downfield en route to a 66 yard score making it 17-7 with 2:29 till half.

Marland had a chance to cut into that lead right before half as they drove inside the Pennsylvania five, but a strong defensive effort kept the visitors out of the end zone maintaining the ten point lead at intermission.

On the second drive in the third quarter Maryland impressively moved deep into Pennsylvania territory and Bryce Cox of Mount Saint Joseph scored his second touchdown from two yards out to make it 17-14 with 5:45 mark.

Pennsylvania answered right back as Perryman of McKeesport scored from a yard out and pushed the lead back to ten 24-14 at the 4:17 mark of the third quarter.

On the ensuing Maryland drive, they marched right down the field and with 2:43 still on the clock Sean Williams of Milford Mill Academy found his way into the end zone from four yards out to make it a 24-20 score.

Maryland would grab their only lead of the hotly contested game with just 2:29 left to play as Sean Johnson on an end around scored from 10 yards and a 27-24 lead.

The determined players of Pennsylvania were not about to concede the contest that easily. As they started the drive and an apparent Maryland pick six, was called back on a holding penalty giving them the ball and new set of downs, where the blue and white would take advantage as Upper Dublin quarterback Colin O'Sullivan lofted a perfectly thrown pass to Kenny Johnson of Dallastown down the far sidelines, where he made a spectacular catch by outreaching the Maryland defender for the touchdown from 31 yards and a 31-27 Pennsylvania lead with just over a minute left in the game.

Now it was Maryland's turn to see if they could pull out a miracle in the last minute, but a last ditch pass deep down the middle near the Pennsylvania goal line fell incomplete preserving the Pennsylvania win.

Here are the post-game comments of Kenny Johnson, who made the game winning catch and Sincere Smith who had the 66 yard punt return in last night's game.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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