125 pounds

So. Parkland 24,

Saucon Valley 22

For the second time in three weeks, the resilient Trojans down three scores at half turned it on again and this time knocked off the undefeated Saucon Valley Panthers 24-22 in a hard fought division SYFL battle.

Saucon Valley, behind the running of the tough Zach Petiet, scored on the third play of the game with a long run of 75 yards. With the score 8-0, the Trojans answered when quarterback Jake Yannes stepped up in the pocket on third and long and threw a beautiful strike to a wide open Dante Strella for a 71-yard touchdown. Strella kicked the extra point to tie the score 8-8.

Right before half, Petiet, who also stars for the Panthers as a lacrosse player in the spring, took a toss to the house making the score 16-8. On the next possession, the Trojans were forced to punt. Again Petiet struck, taking the punt 60 yards for another Panther score making it 22-8 late in the third quarter.

Then the Trojans late game instincts kicked in. The Trojans first scored with a minute left in the third quarter when Dominic Nelson broke through the Panther line on way to a 32-yard TD run that ended in a spectacular diving flip into the end zone.

In the fourth quarter, the Trojans defense tightened forcing a safety which gave them back the ball on the 50 yard line with only 1:34 left in the contest. On the first play of the drive, Yannes hit birthday boy Norris Bullock on a 25-yard seam route. The Trojans then turned to the tough running of Strella and Nelson, grounding and pounding the Panther defense. Nelson put the Trojans ahead for good with a four-yard smash into the end zone behind the excellent blocking of James McLaughlin, Michael Bennett, Bullock, Jake Johnson, Dylan Rahm and Alex Gonzalez.

Yannes ended the day with 103 yards passing with no interceptions and a TD. Strella ran for 125 yards with a score and two extra point kicks. Nelson ran for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Zach Ortman had 13 tackles. Jake Johnson had 11 tackles. Strella, Nelson, Rahm, Ismail Chehouri, Nick Dawkins, Sebastian Suriel, Braxton Hayes and Gabriel Khalife also played flawlessly on defense.

110 pounds

So. Parkland 41,

Saucon Valley 0

The South Parkland 110-pound A Team improved to 6-0 on the season with a dominating 41-0 victory over Saucon Valley.

The Trojan offense struck early, scoring on its second play from scrimmage on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Vincent Gerbasio to George Hlavac. Bryan Bertsch added the point after conversion with a diving catch in the corner of the end zone. After Devin Yeomans recovered an onside kick, the Trojans struck again on their next offensive play, a 37-yard touchdown pass from Gerbasio to Jack Perkins. Perkins also added the point after conversion with a three-yard reception. Gerbasio capped a six-play, 45-yard touchdown drive with a one-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Bertsch added the conversion with a three-yard reception.

On the first play of the second quarter, Mason Holaska returned an interception 22 yards for a Trojan touchdown. Jack Perkins converted the point after with a three-yard reception. Nick Johnston closed out the Trojan first half scoring with a four-yard touchdown run. Asher Reede ran in the point after conversion from three yards out.

The Trojan running backs enjoyed huge holes all day courtesy of outstanding blocking from Jared Mickley, Evan Kopenhaver, Richard Kerrick, JT Siggins, Jered Fenstermaker and John Hohenshilt. Trent Perkins led the way with 41 yards rushing. Gerbasio finished the day 8 for 8 passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns. The leading receiver was Jack Perkins (three receptions for 43 yards).

In recording its fifth shutout of the season, the Trojan defense dominated the Panther offense all day, forcing four turnovers and limiting the Panthers to 43 yards of total offense. Richard Kerrick led the way with six tackles and two sacks. Other Trojan defenders having big days were Ryan Zolotsky (five tackles), Yeomans (four tackles, two fumble recoveries), Siggins (three tackles and a sack), and Trent Perkins (three tackles). Mason Bergstein, Tanner Lewis, Ryan Hoffman, Hlavac, Reede, J. Perkins, and Gerbasio all added two tackles each. Gerbasio finished out the Trojan scoring by returning an interception 30 yards for a touchdown.

95 pounds

So. Parkland A 31,

Saucon Valley 0

The Trojans 95-pound A team guaranteed itself a playoff position with a victory over Saucon Valley this past weekend.

Tough blocking by members of the Trojans offensive line Evan Hobart, Zayd Afif, Tommy Salako, Cole Helmer, Justin Felix, Shane Wenderoth and Nathan Broadhead, allowed touchdown scores by Cade Clancy, Jacob Ortman, Jordan Lewis and Blake Barthol.

The Trojan defense added another shutout to their list of accomplishments this season. The defense was lead by Jacob Ortman, Cole Kratzer and Jordan Lewis who all had a number of tackles. Lewis and Justin Felix also broke up key passing attempts by Saucon Valley.