The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 

Skarbek’s 4 Scores Carries Pope John Paul II to the Promised Land: PAC Championship

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

| October 28, 2023

ROYERSFORD: Entering Friday Night’s Pioneer Athletic Conference Championship, the Frontier Division Champions Golden Panthers of Pope John Paul II knew they faced a big test in the Liberty Champions Spring-Ford Rams. Not only were Golden Panthers, who entered Friday as the 3rd in 4A by PFN not only were they going up against the bigger 6A program in the Rams and their high-powered offense, but they were doing it on the road.

Thankfully Golden Panthers head coach Scott Reed had just the game plan for the matchup, and it was pounding the rock with Boyd Skarbek. Running behind a line made up of Tackles Kevin Heywood Makel Parker, Guards Chase Frantz, Aidan Sgarra, and Center Ignacio Escobar. Skarbek was more than ready to answer the bell and all he did was carry the ball 26 times for 217 yards and four touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball and provide four tackles for loss on the defensive side of things as the Golden Panthers held on to win the first PAC Championship in school history 28-27 in front of jammed pack crowd at Coach McNelly Stadium.

“They won us this game. Without them we wouldn’t be here, they made holes for me.” Skarbek said of his offensive line, reiterating that “They were the reason we won this game, give them all the props.”

Things didn’t start off too great for the Golden Panthers as on the game-opening driver the Rams offense bullied their way down the field reaching the PJP 19-yard-line before the Golden Panthers’ defense tightened up and forced a turnover on downs.

In the second quarter, the Golden Panthers forced the Rams to a second turnover on downs but this time they made the Rams pay for it marching 42 yards on six plays five of which were runs by Skarbek including his first touchdown on the day a 4 yarder.

Momentum was short-lived though on the ensuing kickoff the Golden Panthers kicked the ball to the dangerous Mason Scott and Scott made them pay racing 94 yards to the endzone to tie things up at 7 going into the half.

Skarbek needed only five plays into the second half to find the endzone this time from 11 yards out giving the Golden Panthers the 14-7 lead after three quarters of play and setting the stage for a wild fourth quarter.

On the fourth play of the fourth quarter, the Rams showed just how explosive their offense can be when Jr. QB Matt Zollers connected with Scott who raced 73 yards to the end zone to knot things up at 14. For Zollers, it was his 30th passing touchdown of the season and 60th for his career.

Golden Panthers needed to respond they did putting together a 7-play 79-yard drive that Skarbek capped with his 47-yard touchdown run putting PJP back up 21-14.

The Rams countered with a seven-play 77-yard drive that was aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The penalty put the Rans at PJP 19 three plays later Zollers once again found Scott this time for a 9-yard strike to tie things up at 21.

On the next play from scrimmage, Reed called the exact same play that saw Skarbek race 47 yards on their previous drive. This time Skarbek running behind the Wisconsin commit Heywood once again found the endzone this time from 48 yards.

The Rams didn’t go down without a fight putting together 10 10-play 75-yard drive that was kept alive by two pass interference calls including one on a fourth down that would have gotten the Golden Panther’s defense off the field. The Rams took advantage of their extra chance eventually with Zollers finding Belal Abdelrahman in the middle of the field for an 11-yard touchdown with 26 seconds left to play. The Rams appeared poised just to tie the game at 28 but then PJP called a timeout and with the extra time Rams Head Coach Chad Brubaker decided to change his mind and go for two and the possible win however, Zollers got pressured by Heygood and his pass fell short in front of a host players keeping the PJP lead one at 28-27. The Golden Panthers recovered the ensuing onside kick setting off the celebration.


Both the Rams and Golden Panthers will now set their sights on making long runs in the District Playoffs. The Rams are expected to be 4th seed in District 1 6A while the Golden Panthers have secured the top seed in the 4A. Both team’s opponents are TBD.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x