Ryan Clemens comes up big as Central Bucks West edges North Penn on Senior Night
Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn
Cody Brady | October 19, 2024
At 5’6″, Ryan Clemens may initially appear a bit undersized. However, his shiftiness, speed, and tough nosed attitude allow him to do a bit of everything, and I mean everything, for Central Bucks West. Whether it’s a long run through a momentary hole in the line, a key defensive tackle, a game-winning field goal, or an occasion like tonight, where he did all three.
Central Bucks West started out doing what they do best: running the ball in a time consuming drive, wearing down a defense. Their first drive went ten plays and ate up over five minutes. Ryan Clemens’ first carry of the game went for eight yards and a first down, putting him just shy of 1,000 yards for the season. Noah Miller completed one to Clemens for 21, crossing midfield. Two plays later, Clemens eclipsed the 1,000 rushing yard mark with a gain of three up the middle. Miller was stopped on 4th & 3, picking up just a yard, turning it over on downs.
North Penn quickly countered with a 53 yard pass from Matt Bucksar to Matt Pownall, but a holding call brought the ball back to their own 15, rather than the Bucks’ 22. That flipped the drive into a quick three and out and Central Bucks West responded.
Devin McGowan carried for 22 and then two plays later ran 33 yards to the house on a jet sweep to the right. Just 24 seconds later, after forcing another quick punt, the Bucks had the ball again and chipped away another five and a half minutes off the clock. Clemens raced for ten and Miller, on a designed carry, went up the middle for nine more. Finn McGowan contributed on the offensive line, opening up some big holes over the right side from his tackle position. With another pickup of 16 yards, Clemens moved the ball into the red zone and then capped the drive on an eight yard score.
With 8:33 left in the second quarter, CB West had run 24 plays to North Penn’s six. The Bucks had eight first downs to none for the Knights. North Penn needed to answer on the scoreboard, but more importantly, their defense needed some early rest. Bucksar completed a 22 yard pass to Aiden Eves on second down, giving the Knights some confidence and field position at their own 40 yard line. Bucksar scrambled for seven and Matt Pownall picked up five and another first down. On an eventualy 3rd & 6 call, Bucksar found Pownall down the far sideline for a 30 yard hookup, nearly finding the end zone on the play. Aiden Ashley capped the drive one play later with a score from three yards out, cutting the deficit to 14-7.
The teams then exchanged punts near the end of the first half. However, the final moments were not without drama. Bucksar threw deep on the Knights’ next drive, but a fantastic breakup by Louie Cipollo prevented a 35 yard completion deep in CB West territory. As halftime approached, Noah Miller coughed up the ball inside his own ten yard line, but the Bucks got back on it and took the 14-7 lead into the locker room.
Statistically, the Bucks dominated the half, rushing for over 150 yards and controlling the ball for over 17 minutes. CB West ran 21 plays in North Penn territory to just six for the Knights on the Bucks’ side of the 50. North Penn was shy of 100 total yards.
Despite all that, North Penn had momentum opening the second half. The Knights had scratched and clawed, avoiding a huge deficit and were getting the ball first in the third quarter. AJ Gerace put a halt on said momentum, sacking Bucksar and forcing another short three and out possession.
The Bucks picked back up as if it was the beginning of the game. Clemens ripped off consecutive runs of 13, 11, and 18 yards, marching CB West to the Knights 26. The Knights found their footing defensively, however, when Dylan Webb-Dennis came up with a tackle in the backfield, eventually forcing a 43 yard field goal try. The kick from Ryan Clemens came up short, giving the ball back to North Penn with just over six minutes to play in the quarter.
Gavin Todd made the next big play in the game, sacking Bucksar on 3rd & 3, forcing another North Penn punt. After the Knights defense did the same, North Penn was finally able to capitalize on their next drive, but at a huge cost.
After the Ryan Clemens punt went off the side of his foot, North Penn was in business at the Bucks 40 to open the fourth quarter. A personal foul facemask penalty moved the ball near the red zone on the next play. The Bucks defense, though, was standing tall and forced a fourth down and five call. Bucksar was forced out of the pocket and ran to his right down the far sideline. He was belted out of bounds at the two, picking up 14 yards, but exited the game following the massive hit. Christian Johns-Wallace finished the drive with the two yard touchdown, and the game was tied at 14-14 with 10:21 to play.
— LSV Sports (@LSVSports) October 19, 2024
Devin McGowan sped down the near side, returning the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to the North Penn 42. Despite the excellent field position, the Bucks couldn’t do anything with it and would punt three plays later.
London Evans took over at quarterback. The sophomore, backed up at his own 18 on second down, had trouble fielding the snap and lost yardage back to his own four yard line. CB West was gifted more fantastic field position, taking over on the North Penn 36. However, on a goal to go play, Clemens fumbled into the end zone and North Penn got the ball back one more time.
With Bucksar still out, the offense was more limited. Three consecutive runs did not produce a first down and, following another punt, CB West took over on its own 39 with 1:33 to play. With no timeouts, the Bucks quickly moved into scoring position on a Miller 11 yard completion to Clemens and 15 yard run by the latter. With time dwindling, Clemens calmly stepped in for a 33-yard field goal. This time, his kick was true and with five seconds left, CB West had all but sealed a 17-14 victory. North Penn’s final play was a botched snap and long incompletion thrown by Evans.
Final@westcbfootball 17@NorthPennKnight 14
Ryan Clemens 33yd FG with 5 seconds left is the game winner! @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/0eJpGjECzh
— LSV Sports (@LSVSports) October 19, 2024
On the night, Ryan Clemens finished with 23 carries for 159 yards and a score. Noah Miller carried four times for 57 yards and the other touchdown. Through the air, Miller finished 4/9 for 43 yards and gained 23 on the ground.
North Penn was held to 84 net rushing yards and 64 through the air.
Both teams will be favored in their final game of the regular season next week when CB West faces rival CB East and North Penn takes on Abington.
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