The Funding Zone
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
 
 
SAFR: Safer Through Science
CoachComm Cobalt Plus
Turf Tank
 

Spectacular Ending Gives Executive Education Charter District XI Gold.

Tagged under: District 11, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 13, 2022

Amazing Ending on 63 Yard Touchdown Pass In Waning Seconds Lift Executive Education to Improbable Win.

WHITEHALL- It’s likely whether your young or old and as ports fan at some point heard the late Vin Scully’s call of Kirk Gibson’s home run in the 1988 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland A’s. Well if Mr. Scully was watching from the heavens Saturday afternoon of what transpired at the Zephyr Sports Complex, I am sure he would have found the words to describe the ending to this instant classic between the Executive Education Charter Raptors and the Catasauqua Roughriders in a PIAA District XI 2A championship game. With just three seconds left Executive’s quarterback found WR Jyhmiek Roman with a 63 yard pass as two Catty defenders went for the ball but missed and Roman caught the pass at the 20 and sprinted in for the game-winning score in a 32-29 victory to advance to the PIAA State Championship 2A playoffs next week.

Executive Education is it’s second year as a football program. Last year the captured the Eastern Conference title with a win over District II Holy Cross Crusaders at Muhlenberg College. This victory Saturday was the most satisfying win by far for this fledgling program.

After a scoreless first quarter but then each team scored once in the second stanza beginning with Catasauqua opened the scoring with a Anthonie Hunsicker seven yard score at the seven minute mark. Hunsicker also converted the two-point conversion to make it 8-0. The drive covered 70 yards on six plays all by Hunsicker runs, including a 31 yard pickup and a 19 yard gain.

Then with just fifty-four seconds left before halftime Roman found himself on a receiving end of a Lopez dart on a quick post pattern and cashed it in to cut the lead to 8-6 as the their try for two failed and the teams headed to the locker room. Lopez had a nifty 24 yard scramble on the drive.

The second half saw seven lead changes, which started on a 21 yard pass play from Lopez to Zamier Perkins touchdown with 6:45 left in the third quarter. Perkins caught a square out pass and avoided a couple of tackles on his way to giving the Raptors their first lead at 12-8 as again the two-point run failed.

Roughriders Wyatt Younes returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards, then a late hit penalty called on Executive added 15 yards at the end of the play. Hunsicker capped off the short drive from nine yards out giving Catty the lead at 15-12. Hunsicker finished with 177 yards on 34 carries and two touchdowns.

It took the Raptors three plays to grab the lead back when Lopez found Damon Young sprinting down the right sidelines and place a perfect bomb, that two Roughies defenders misplayed resulting in a 59 yard score with 2:31 left in the quarter making it 18-15 Executive as the PAT was blocked.

With just exactly two minutes into the final quarter Christian Fye connected with Wyatt Younes for a 23 yard score for a 21-18 lead for Catty. Fye, who made a game winning 37 yard field goal last week against Palisades was just 3 of 7 passing for 27 yards and the one touchdown. That made the score 21-18 Catasauqua lead.

That three point lead would only last a few seconds, as on the ensuing kickoff Roman took the ball after a couple of bounces at his own six and promptly deposited the rock in the end zone for a 94 yard score. Roman caught six passes in the game for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lopez completed 13 of 22 passes for 249 yards and four scores.

Then Catasauqua marched 80 yards on 12 plays on their next drive culminating in a Fye seven yard score with just 2:03 left making it 29-25. Fye had 21 yards in the game on eight carries.

Then Executive went into their two minute drill with Lopez making some pinpoint passes but also had three of their 17 total penalties on their game winning drive. Two consecutive holding calls pushe the ball out of Catty territory and back up the Raptors to their own 38. Facing a third and long and with just 20 seconds left, Lopez rolled to the far sidelines, looking down field with no one open, and facing no pressure, he bought his time and waited for Roman to cross the middle of the field. Lopez stepped in and threw the pass towards Roman, two Roughies defenders were there as they took a swipe and came up empty, Roman caught it and outraced one defender into the end zone as the Raptor bench and fans erupted with elation as they now advance to their first taste of state playoffs.

Executive Education (7-3) will next face District II cahmpion and unbeaten Lakeland Chiefs in the opening round at a site, time and date yet to be determined. Catasauqua finished it’s season at 7-5 and have one game left, on Thanksgiving Day at Northampton. The K-Kids lost in the District XI 6A semifinal to Parkland Thursday night 31-17.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
QwikCut
 
GoRout
 
Rainbow Lettering
 
x