C.B. South Game

By Bud Kern
Courtesy of The Free Press

The Quakertown Panthers used a pair of fourth-quarter breakaway touchdowns to dispose of winless, but tough Central Bucks South 21-0 last Friday evening at Titans Stadium in Warrington.
The Panthers gained their third straight win with the victory, and a second-week-in-a-row shut-out defense.
Quakertown ran off an 11-play, 60-yard first period drive, highlighted by a 17-yard look-in pass from quarterback Jon Ruch to speed burning receiver Nate Cox.
Ruch veered into the end-zone from 7 yards out, behind blocks by Chris Leister, Jim Bowman, and Kevin Orr to boost the Panthers to a 7-0 lead after Dylan Brenton's placement boot.
For South, it was another impediment-filled night with its struggling offense, failing to post points after long drives. "We turned it over three times and couldn't finish the drives," said Titan quarterback Bill McDonnell. "I mean we just can¹t catch a break."
The Panthers, on the other hand, were able to supply the fourth-quarter knockout punches to send the Titans to their fifth consecutive loss. At the 11:06 mark of the fourth quarter, Ruch eyed the South defense. "The defense they were in a 4-4 and they shifted three guys to the right, to the side where we loaded up," said Ruch. "They only had one guy to the left."
The senior signal-caller used a quarterback sneak, with key blocks by Dustin Siefert and Justin Lightner to roar down the left sideline on a 74-yard scoring jaunt. Brenton's P.A.T. upped the lead to 14-0. Later the Panthers put the final nail in the South coffin with a 35-yard touchdown run by speedy tailback Zach Shoch on a power-play call behind great blocking by the right side of the Q-town line and lead blocks out of the Panther backfield. Brenton's P.A.T. boot ended the scoring. Quakertown 21, South 0.
"We're moving in the right direction now," said Quakertown coach John Donnelly. "Our first one-and-a-half games, that wasn¹t the way we play. We've cranked it up since then," added Donnelly, referring to the squad's last loss at Wissahickon.
The (3-2-2-0 SOL) Panthers face William Tennent at Alumni Field this Friday evening at 7 p.m. Tennent is led by 1,100-yard-plus tailback Brandon Pirrone. It should be interesting!

Game Notes

Late in the second half, South drove the pigskin to the Panther 14 yard line. On a fourth-and-five situation, quarterback McDonnell hooked up with senior wide receiver Mike Finnegan on a toss inside the 5 yard line that appeared to be a completion.
However, defensive back Nate Cox swiftly stripped the football out of Finnegan's hands, to halt the drive, leaving South without the opportunity to knot the score before halftime, a huge play by Cox. "The kid caught the ball and he started turning and he swung the ball up in the air," said Cox. "I just went in with my arm and ripped it out."
Later in the second half Cox picked off another Titan pass.

Ruch - 6 carries for 84 yards, 2 TDs.
Shoch - 14 carries for 56 yards, 1 TD.
Passing - Ruch - 6 for 9 - 91 yards.
Receiving - Cox four catches for 60 yards.
James Streapy - One catch for 20 yards.
Kevin Orr - One catch for 11 yards.

The whole Q-town defensive unit was outstanding on this early October Autumn
night. The new stadium at C.B. South is a sight to see!

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