The South Parkland Youth Association football teams wrapped up their seasons over the past few weeks, including a league championship victory for the Trojan varsity team.

VARSITY

Championship

The South Parkland varsity rallied from a two-touchdown deficit in the final three minutes of the game to defeat Emmaus 13-12 Saturday, Nov. 11 at Palmer Township. With the win, the Trojans captured the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Football League Varsity Championship and cap an 11-0 season.

The Hornets led 6-0 at halftime and went ahead 12-0 in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans’ Nakhi Bullock returned a kickoff to the Hornet 40-yard line. Chase Kusko and Griffin Patridge connected on a series of passes that gave the Trojans a first and goal from the Hornets 1-yard line.

From there, Patridge scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Kusko and Patridge hooked up on the extra-point conversion pass to cut the lead to 12-7 with 2:40 left on the clock.

A Blake Bednar onside kick was recovered by Patridge. On the fourth play of the ensuing drive, Patridge connected with Bullock on a 40-yard touchdown pass, giving the Trojans their first lead of the game at 13-12 with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

The Trojans stopped the Hornets on their next drive, turning the ball back over to the Trojans. Following a pivotal first down conversion, the Trojans were able to take a knee and run out the clock to capture the game and championship.

The Trojan offensive line, led by Xander Provence, Jacob Beidleman, Owen Brodhead, Victor Pagan, and Robbie Ruisch, along with receivers Jack Harrison and Quincy Brunner, battled a stingy Hornets defense all night.

The Trojan defense, consisting of Beidleman, Brodhead, Pagan, Patridge, Bullock, Kusko, Bednar, Jaiden Wanamaker, Jake Parker, Zemont Quaye and Joey Gerbasio, contained a potent Hornet offense until the Trojan offense was able to break into the scoring column.

Saturday’s win capped an 11-0 season for the Trojans, which included a Red Division Championship in addition to the playoff championship. Including the playoffs, the Trojans outscored their opponents 311-52 on the season and recorded five defensive shutouts.

Team members for the Trojans included Blake Bednar, Chase Kusko, ZemontQuaye, Joseph Gerbasio, Jack Harrison, Quincy Brunner, Austin Robertson, Cole Skrapits, Griffin Patridge, Nahki Bullock, Jaiden Wanamaker, Jake Parker, Drew Cole, Brian Hulse, Victor Pagan, Xander Provence, Aidan Gallagher, Robert Yeager, Robbie Ruisch, Owen Broadhead, William Sallit, Michael Chimics, Talan Oswald and Jacob Beidleman.

The coaching staff included head coach Chad Kusko, along with assistant coaches Andy Cole, Dan Harrison, Vinny Gerbasio, Victor Pagan and Scott Parker.

Semifinal

The South Parkland Trojans Varsity team defeated the East Side Youth Center Huskies 7-6 on Saturday, Nov. 4 in the semifinal round of the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Football League playoffs.

Zemont Quaye had a fumble recovery in the first half that stopped an East Side Youth Center drive deep in Trojans territory.

East Side Youth Center broke the scoring drought on the first play of the second half with a 35-yard touchdown run. Both defenses continued to control the action through the balance of the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Joey Gerbasio intercepted a Huskies pass on the Trojans 1-yard line.

Griffin Patridge scampered 65 yards to held set up Chase Kusko’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Patridge. Patridge converted the extra point run for a 7-6 Trojans lead midway through the fourth quarter.

On the next East Side Youth Center possession, Jake Parker and Victor Pagan had key sacks, leading to a turnover on downs.The Trojans converted two first downs and ran out the clock for the victory.

FLAGS

The South Parkland Trojans flag team played in a two-day, end-of-season tournament hosted by Emmaus. The Trojans played in two games against Lower Macungie and two games o against North Parkland. The Trojans’ offense was led by Colby Hoffman at wing back, Travis Schultz at quarterback and Caleb Ferrick running very hard at running back.

The defense was led by Gavin Bankert and Anthony Escolopio at defensive tackle, and at linebacker Noah McAfee and Ricky Lara did a good job of filling the hole and pulling flags. The Trojans had an awesome season and the coaches are very proud of all the players’ efforts.

JUNIOR PEE WEE

The Trojan Junior Pee Wee team took fourth overall in the end-of-season tournament. It faced a decent Lower Macungie team that stopped the Trojans four out of five times in the red zone.

The Trojans started the game with a long drive down to the third yard line, but failed to punch it in. Lower Macungie responded with a touchdown. Lower Macungie took the lead into the half 14-0.

The Trojan defense shutdown Lower Mac in the second half, not giving up any points. The defense was led by Joseph Thompson, Julius Silkworth, Shaye Wanamaker, Ezekiel Gordner, and Kamari Mckenzie.

The Trojan offense was very good. Although it only saw the end zone once, it drove down the field multiple times, led by Matthew Tripp, Lucas Messer, Jackson Ding, and Austin Fick.

The Trojans lost 14-6 and the fell to Emmaus 19-0 in the third/fourth place round. Coaches Paul Wanamaker, Chris Tripp, Matt Cross, Marc Messer and the Trojans are already looking forward to next season.