Fleetwood defeats Kutztown in high school football opener

A five-touchdown explosion in the second quarter was Fleetwood’s way of “just scratching the surface” for its high school football opener.

Five different Tigers scored in the second quarter Friday night to help Fleetwood defeat visiting Kutztown 48-6 to retain the Hall of Fame Trophy with its sixth straight win over its backyard rival.

The Tigers hit Kutztown on the ground, through the air and on special teams with an onside kick during the 35-point outburst. Fleetwood also got a 32-yard interception return from Chase Domenech, one of four turnovers forced by the Tigers.

“Our team is very nice,” said Fleetwood senior running back Czion Brickle. “We can run, we know how to pass the ball and we have great chemistry.”

Brickle scored a pair of touchdowns but wasn’t part of the decisive second quarter. Brickle scored Fleetwood’s first touchdown on a 22-yard run in the first quarter, then raced 65 yards for the only score of the second half.

He finished with 109 yards on seven carries.

“Everyone saw the true gear he can open up to,” Fleetwood coach Steve Pangburn said about the 65-yard run.

The Tigers also showed off a few other weapons in their arsenal.

Brate Maddocks took a reverse 54 yards to the end zone and rushed for 68 yards on just three carries.

Quarterback Jack Riffle threw a pair of touchdown passes, one for 58 yards to Mason Musitano, the other 18 yards to Landon Hare.

Trey Killian, who also had an interception, scored from 5 yards out on his only carry.

And kicker William Maurek was 6-for-6 on extra points, had two touchbacks on kickoffs and a pair of punts of more than 40 yards each.

Pangburn said the Tigers didn’t show all their weapons in their first game coming off a 2-8 season.

“We’re just scratching the surface,” Pangburn said. “What I’m happy about was the second quarter, not so happy about how we came out at halftime. We were very flat.”

Kutztown, coming off a 3-7 season, displayed a strong running game, especially in the first half. Kutztown answered Brickle’s first touchdown with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that quarterback Colten Mathias capped with an 8-yard run to tie it at 6-6.

Brenden Ackley, who broke off runs of 24 and 28 yards on the drive, finished with 115 yards on 22 carries.

But the Cougars completed just one pass for 5 yards.

Source: Berkshire mont