Plymouth Whitemarsh Walks Off in Dramatic Fashion

Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

Michael Pietrangelo | October 19, 2024

Plymouth Meeting- Last night, the Colonials of Plymouth Whitemarsh (PW) clinched at minimum a share of the Suburban One League (SOL) American Conference title for a fourth straight season. With just 14 seconds remaining in the game, senior Chase Rarrick secured the victory for his squad when he picked off Upper Moreland’s Alex Foley on the three-yard line. PW’s 21-14 win will cement this class in the school record books for years.  Rarrick gleamed, “Four in a row, baby. It means a lot. It’s a testament to our hard work, our coaches’ hard work, our scout guys, everybody.” Head coach Dan Chang felt the same way about his team’s accomplishments, “It’s such a great group of kids to not only coach, but they’re great players on the field and outstanding young men in the classroom. I hope it’s something that they will cherish and remember. Since I’ve been here, it’s the first time we’ve had four in a row – at least a share this year. I’m excited for them. I’m happy for them that they were able to do that.” With that said, let’s recap the rest of the night.

Upper Moreland (7-2, 2-2) won the opening toss, and the offense started the game with a reverse flea flicker. Senior quarterback Alex Foley connected with senior wideout Jamir Williams for a 48-yard gain, and four plays later, Aiden Tuffy ran for a touchdown to give the Golden Bears a 7-0 lead with 9:56 in the quarter. “That was what we wanted to do,” Head coach Adam Beach said. “We knew we had to be explosive against them and try to get them out of their offense as best we could because they’re a very good running team. We thought if we could get a lead or get a stop and get up on them – get them out of what they wanted to do, which is run the ball – it gives us a better chance of winning.” PW’s first possession ended in a punt, and the Bears would take over and claw their way downfield, but time would expire, and they would take that 7-0 lead into the second quarter.

After a missed Luke Sword field goal attempt, Everett Baker would punch the rock in from three yards out to knot the game up at seven with 9:26 to go. Three minutes later, with 6:55 to go in the half, senior Swiss army knife Aidan Tuffy caught an 18-yard touchdown from Foley to extend the Bears lead to 14-7. The Colonials then marched down the field, and Everett Baker found pay dirt again when he plunged into the endzone from a yard out. After the Max Peterson PAT, the game was again tied up at 14-14, which is how we would go into the half all locked up.

Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-2, 4-0) came out in the second half and held the ball for most of the third quarter.  A seventeen play drive to start the second half took almost nine minutes off the clock, but in the end had nothing to show for it. The Colonials next possession started at their one-yard line. They ran eight plays and moved 30 yards but were then forced to punt yet again. Neither team could find the endzone in the third quarter.

Nothing happened in the fourth until PW took over on their 23-yard line. This would be their third drive of the second half and what would be the final drive of the game.  With only 5:43 left in the game, Everett Baker and Christian DiCiurcio each moved the chains on the final drive to run down the clock.  DiCiurcio accounted for 21 yards while Baker ran for 56 yards, including the game-winning 35-yard touchdown run with 2:42 to play.

UM would take over and after moving the chains and picking up 36-yards on a 4th and 15. “The momentum seemed to shift down there,” said Head coach Dan Chang on his teams final stand.  The Bears were moving and got all the way down to the nine yard line with about 30 seconds on the clock.  Bears QB Alex Foley scanned the field and fired the ball into tight coverage when Chase Rarrick stepped in tipped the pass into the air and came down with it to seal the game. “I thought our kids battled,” Head coach Adam Beach said. “They battled the entire game. We gave ourselves a chance there at the end, and we came up a little short. I thought our kids fought hard for a full 48 minutes of football, and that’s what we want to do every week. I think we played them tough. They’re a quality football team, and I think we gave them everything they can handle tonight. That’s a credit to us, but we still came up short. That’s what stinks.” 

INDIVIDUAL STATS

RUSHING

UM:  Valentin 7-26; Tuffy 3-7, TD; Foley 6-18; Davis 2-(-1).

PW: Baker 23-148, 3 TD; DiCiurcio 9-48; Leszczynski 13-22; Iannozzi 1-6.

PASSING

UM: Foley 16-23-241-1-1.

PW: Leszczynski 4-9-99-0-0.

RECEIVING

UM: Williams 4-55; Tuffy 3-35, TD; McDermot 2-23; JValentin 3-25; Moore 4-113.

PW: Laffredo 2-66;  Smith 1-15; Rarrick 1-18.

INTERCEPTIONS

PW: Rarrick.

Player of the Game

*Everett Baker earned the award by rushing 23 times for 148 yards and three touchdowns

** Chase Rarrick had the game-sealing interception with :14 to go in the game

*** Jadon Joseph had a 12-yard sack on 3^rd down forcing a 4-15 and was in the backfield all evening

Student Spotlight

Alexa Earl is a senior flyer on the Cheer team and has been competing in cheer for 14 years. Her favorite subject in school is gym. After high school, she plans on attending college and cheering. A fun fact about Alexa is that she teaches tumbling to the youth outside after school.

Tyler Patrick is a senior and plays the quads on the drumline. He has been doing participating in band for 4 years. Tyler’s favorite subjects are psychology and Physical education. After high school Tyler will be attending Bryn Athyn College to major in business and play volleyball. A fun fact about Tyler is that he has competed in 4 years of varsity track and field.

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