BRYN ATHYN—John Bartram and host Academy of the New Church didn’t make it to the finish line Friday evening. The contest was suspended with 3:47 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Braves leading 26-16, having just scored their second touchdown of the fourth quarter.
At that point, the six officials made the decision to end the game and left the field. The game will not be resumed and the score will stand as final.
Prior to their departure, the officials had several disputes with the Bartram sideline. With just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the Braves Toney Freeman was ejected after receiving an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Some minutes later, a spectator who had been standing on the Bartram sideline was told to leave the area by game administrators. After moving to an area between the playing field and the parking lot, he directed several comments toward the officials that could be construed as threatening.
Police were called to the scene. Coaches and administrators from both schools declined to comment on the incident.
Prior to the suspension of play, Bartram scored 20 straight second-half points to overcome a 16-6 halftime deficit.
Tyler Freeman connected with Josiah James on scoring passes of 30 and 45 yards to put the Braves up 20-16 with 7:55 left in the game.
Eric Chisholm Jr sprinted 40 yards at the 3:47 mark and play was suspended prior to the succeeding kickoff.
The Lions took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter when Toney Freeman’s protection disintegrated on a punt attempt, resulting in a safety. They extended their lead at the 10:20 mark of the second quarter when Moses Bruno found Lowen Swierczynski on an 85-yard run catch and run down the right sideline.
Bartram’s first points came on Keeshawn Wright’s two-yard effort off the right side with 34 seconds left in the half, but the Lukens responded immediately when Brandon Tweedy-Strong took the next kickoff 82 yards to the end zone.
Those were ANC’s last points of the game. The Lions lost Bruno late in the third quarter with an injury.
John Bartram 0 6 812—26
ANC 2 14 0 0—16
ANC-Safety; Toney Freeman sacked in end zone
ANC-Swierczynski 85 pass from Bruno (Cooper kick)
B-Wright 5 run (run fails)
ANC-Tweedy-Strong 82 kickoff return (Cooper kick)
B James 30 pass from Tyler Freeman (Toney Freeman run)
B James 45 pass from Tyler Freeman (run fails)
B Chisholm 40 (pass failed)