With everything to play for in the final week of the regular season, Schuylkill Valley and Lancaster Catholic gave everything they had Friday night in Leesport with the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 title on the line.
A strong defensive effort that included two critical fourth down stops in the first half, one of those being a blocked punt, as well as a strong effort from the Panthers’ dynamic offense carried Schuylkill Valley to a 40-29 victory.
The Panthers (7-0, 8-2) finish the regular season with sole possession of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 title. It is their first outright section title in program history.
While pivotal fourth down stops helped in the first half, in the second half the Crusaders picked up a key fourth down on fourth and 2 from their own 29 to keep the drive alive early in the fourth. Moments later, a 48-yard touchdown pass from David Stefanow to Zachary Dresch gave Lancaster Catholic a 29-28 lead with eight minutes left in the contest.
The resilient Schuylkill Valley offense would not be denied, however, and on the ensuing drive the Panthers went 65-yards on a scoring drive to retake the lead.
Schuylkill Valley picked up a key fourth down of their own on the first set of downs on the drive. On fourth and three from their own 42, senior quarterback Logan Nawrocki rolled out right and connected with Kowen Gerner along the sideline for a 6-yard pickup.
A few plays later, as he has done multiple times throughout the season, Nawrocki threw a deep pass high to Lucas Spotts on third and eight from the 50 to get to the Crusaders’ 12.
Moments later, Logan Cammauf, who had a huge game on both sides of the ball, scored on a 6-yard touchdown run. The ensuing two-point conversion try fell incomplete making the score 34-29.
Taking over with just under four minutes to go, Lancaster Catholic advanced as far as the Schuylkill Valley 19 before tackles for loss and penalties pushed the Crusaders back (5-2, 6-4) to the 33.
On third and 24, a Stefanow pass was intercepted on the Schuylkill Valley 6-yard line by Dillon Lackner with 2:30 left in the game, effectively ending Lancaster Catholic’s chance at a comeback.
Cammauf, who finished the night with three rushing touchdowns, picked up his third rushing touchdown on third and two from the Panthers own 36. The 64-yard touchdown run closed out the scoring for Schuylkill Valley with 1:18 to go in the game.
At the start of the game, Both offenses came out with a fury as the Crusaders took just one play from scrimmage to score after taking over at their own 1-yard line. The Panthers were forced to punt on their opening drive and a successful punt by Alex Reali put Lancaster Catholic on their own 1.
Following a flash start on Schuylkill Valley, Brandon Way scored his first touchdown of the night as he found a hole and scooted down the right sideline for a 94-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 with 9:28 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers responded in kind, with a strong drive on the ensuing possession. After starting at their own 40 and picking up two first downs, Schuylkill Valley was faced with a fourth and eight at their own 28 as senior quarterback Logan Nawrocki threw a pass into the right corner of the end zone that received a pass interference call on the defense.
After advancing to the 14, Nawrocki threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Hohenadel running a wheel route to make it 7-7 with 4:55.
However, the Crusaders continued their hot hand, and on the following drive, took just two plays to add to their lead. This time, a 65-yard touchdown run once gain by Way made it 14-7 with 4:44 to go.
The Panthers answered with a 2-play scoring drive of our own. Nawrocki connected with Luke Spotts on two passes for a 2-play 65-yard touchdown drive. In picturesque fashion, Nawrocki found Spotts in stride in the right corner of the end zone on a post route. On the play prior, Nawrocki and Spotts connected on a 45-yard pass to set up the scoring play, tying the game 14-14 with 3:52 left in the opening quarter.
Despite the speed and haste with which scoring occurred in the first quarter, the second quarter saw less action.
Schuylkill Valley came up with a major stop on fourth and goal from the two-yard line and took over with 8:03 to go in the first half. Lancaster Catholic picked up six first downs after starting at their own 21.
Starting at their own 2 with 8:03 to go, the Panthers took several minutes off the clock while picking up four first downs before turning it over.
Late in the second-half, Schuylkill Valley came up with another momentum-shifting stop when Logan Cammauf blocked a punt to give the Panthers the ball back at the Crusaders’ 34.
After picking up three quick first downs through the air, Cammauf punched the ball in on a 2-yard touchdown run to give Schuylkill Valley the lead with 10 seconds before halftime.
At the end of the first half, Nawrocki was 14-for-24 passing for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Spotts had six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Way finished the first half with nine carries for 194 rushing yards and the two touchdowns. Lancaster Catholic quarterback David Stefanow was 5-for-5 for 50 yards in the first half.
In the second half, the Panthers forced a three-and-out and then went on a scoring drive to go up by multiple scores.
Schuylkill Valley proceeded to go on an 8-play, 56-yard drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nawrocki to Kowen Gerner. Nawrocki’s pass was floated in stride on another post route to the right corner of the end zone, making it 28-14.
The Crusaders showed plenty of resilience down two scores. With about seven minutes to go in the third quarter, Lancaster Catholic took six and a half minutes off the clock before Brandon Way capped off the 69-yard touchdown drive with a 1-yard run.
Following the score, the Crusaders went for a two-point conversion pass that was tipped but ultimately caught by Brendan Sullivan all alone in the end zone.
Source: Berkshire mont
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