C.B. East Game

By Bud Kern
Courtesy of The Free Press

In a setting not too far removed from a water polo contest, Quakertown Community High School kicker Nate Miller booted a 22-yard field goal with nine ticks left on the game clock to propel the Panthers to a 16-13 triumph over tenacious Central Bucks East last Friday evening on the quagmire that was Alumni Field.
"I had a feeling that it (the games conclusion) might come down to me," said a happy Miller. "I really didn¹t have good footing but the football cleared the bar by about 3 feet."
Quakertown, early in the first quarter, before the heavy rains developed, used a brilliant 51-yard touchdown run by Nate Cox. The fleet senior took a pitchout to the left from quarterback Jon Ruch, followed by some fine blocks to put the Panthers up 7-0 after a Miller placement boot.
"It was great bouncing back from last week," said Cox. "We all played together. They (East) were a good team and we respected them."
The Patriots used a second quarter march, led by backs John Cataldo and J.J. Watson, with Watson picking up the T.D. on a 3-yard run. A 2-point conversion attempt failed and the Panthers led 7-6 at halftime.
The Panthers opened up the second half with an 11-play, 70-yard push, keyed by a couple of nifty pass receptions by James Streapy that culminated with a Ruch to Chris Leister 24-yard touchdown hookup. Miller¹s P.A.T. attempt was blocked and the hosts led 13-6 late in period number 3.
East came roaring back on the lake-like gridiron, with Watson sloshing for 51 yards to set up a Cataldo 27-yard water skirt to the end zone. Brian Trymbiski's placement kick tied the encounter at 13-13 shortly before the fourth quarter began.
With only three-plus minutes left in the fourth quarter, East surrendered the football, running out of downs, after the Panthers' linebacker Streapy stepped up with a pair of key quarterback sacks.
With time beginning to move toward game's end, Ruch and company got their motor boats moving to set up kicker Miller's field goal attempt.
A 28-yard screen pass to Cox placed the ball on the Patriots' 5 yard line.
Three plays later Miller's clutch boot sealed the Panthers' victory.
"We play better when we're down," said Ruch. "But, oh my gosh, our guys just stepped it up huge. East just busted their butts on D, but we were able to come up with the big plays."
The Panthers (4-3-3-1-SOL) visit Council Rock South next Friday at 7 p.m.

Game Notes
Panther coach John Donnelly on the game: "C.B. East was a good team. Last week (Wm. Tennent loss), we were on the other end of the heartbreak. This week we are on the right end of it. We're real proud of our guys, it was a team effort."

Patriot mentor Larry Greene comments: "Man, I'm telling you Quakertown's had our number for three years. I'm proud of our kids tonight, they played their hearts out. I feel bad for them, but we have to go on and prepare for next week's game."

East runningbacks Watson and Cataldo had 212 combined rushing yards. The Panthers Ruch and Cox total 147 yards, while Ruch was 10 for 14 for 119 passing yards and one T.D.

Quakertown's Streapy, who performed well on both sides of the football said, "with the weather, it was real tough, but you just have to fight through it. East played us for 48 minutes, they pounded it out against us, but eventually we were able to come up with the win."

Quakertown's defensive unit was outstanding on this night of the monsoon!

It was senior night for the cheerleaders and football players, along with
parents in a pre-game presentation.

Bud Kern is a freelance sports writer for The Free Press.