Pottsgrove thwarts Interboro in OT to win Class 4A title
Pottsgrove coach Rick Pennypacker gathered his ecstatic players together and directed his small group of seniors to go and collect the PIAA District 1 Class 4A championship trophy.
Pottsgrove coach Rick Pennypacker gathered his ecstatic players together and directed his small group of seniors to go and collect the PIAA District 1 Class 4A championship trophy.
With their defense stuffing Interboro's two-point conversion run in overtime, the visiting Falcons nipped the stunned Bucs, 27-26, in the title matchup Friday night at the cold and windy South Avenue Athletic Complex.
Fighting back from a 20-7 deficit early in the second quarter, Pennypacker's young squad captured its third district crown in seven seasons.
"So many big plays happened in this game," the 28th-year coach said. "I'm so proud of my kids. They played a great game. I can't say enough about them."
Taking possession first in the extra session, Pottsgrove went ahead, 27-20, on quarterback Ryan Finn's 1-yard sneak and Nathan Kasper's extra-point boot. Rahsul Faison's runs of 5 and 4 yards set up the tally.
Interboro likewise scored quickly on three runs, with Chris Thomas finding pay dirt on a 2-yard, right side run.
That's when longtime Bucs coach Steve Lennox opted to roll the dice and go for the win. After Pennypacker called a timeout, Thomas' attempt in the same direction came up short.
The Falcons (8-4) will face District 11 champion Bethlehem Catholic in a first-round state playoff next weekend at a neutral site and time to be determined. Bethlehem Catholic ousted Saucon Valley, 27-21, Friday.
Interboro (10-2) went in front, 12-0, in the opening 8 minutes on Kaylie Kuyateh's 33-yard jaunt and Thomas' 3-yard run.
Down by 20-7 in the second, Pottsgrove put together a 15-play, 90-yard scoring drive that was capped by Finn's 8-yard toss to Bailey Delp.
Faison (34 carries for 162 yards) and company evened things at the start of the second half with an 11-play, 68-yard series that was finished by Finn's 3-yard run.
The Falcons survived even though they committed four turnovers and allowed the gritty Bucs to net 313 rushing yards on 53 attempts.
For the season, Faison, a junior transfer from Archbishop Carroll, has carried 254 times for 1,980 yards and 25 TDs.
Pennypacker said his team has only eight seniors. "We've persevered through a lot with this team," he said. "We're very, very young."
Interboro is scheduled to host Delaware County neighbor Ridley (10-2) on Thanksgiving Day. The Green Raiders blanked the Bucs, 12-0, last season.
It's a good bet that Steve Lennox will be back for his 25th season as Interboro's boss.
"I always evaluate things after each year," he said. "But I get a lot of support from the school, the parents, and the community. That means a lot."
Pottsgrove 7 6 7 0 7 - 27
Interboro 12 8 0 0 6 - 26
I: Kaylie Kuyateh 33 run (kick blocked)
I: Chris Thomas 3 run (run failed)
P: Rahsul Faison 12 run (Nathan Kasper kick)
I: Kuyateh 77 run (Thomas run)
P: Bailey Delp 8 pass from Ryan Finn (kick blocked)
P: Finn 3 run (Kasper kick)
P: Finn 3 run (Kasper kick)
I: Thomas 2 run (run failed)
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