To run in the November 5th Bucks County Herald
Gavin Graham is not known as a receiver. The Army-bound running back has just six catches all year.
But playmakers make plays.
Graham snagged Trent Haviland’s pass and barreled through to score with 23 seconds left Friday night against previously unbeaten Pennridge, giving his CB South Titans a 19-14 lead they would not relinquish. Javin Kube caught the two-point conversion for the final 21-14 score.
The win also created a three-way tie between Pennridge (9-1, 6-1 National), South and CB West for the SOL National title.
“It all comes down to our O line. They really helped push the defense to create the big running lanes,” praised Titan running back Colin White, who led South with 76 yards on 18 carries. “Our coaches drew up some great schemes tonight. We trusted the schemes, I hit the holes and ran where I needed to run.”
CB South started 0-3- albeit to teams with a 20-6 combined record entering Friday. Since then, the Titans have won six of seven on the backs of an excellent defense. South (6-4, 6-1 National) allowed no more than 14 points in those six wins and held five of their last seven opponents to under 200 total yards.
“All the practice we do. All of the formations and plays: we run them over and over again,” credited junior defensive end Jacob Friedman, who unofficially contributed to five tackles for loss or no gain.
“Practice stinks honestly,” he smiled, “but clearly it works out!”
A late first quarter muffed punt snap gave the Rams the ball at the Titan-35. But Pennridge went backwards thanks to a third down sack from Friedman and Jameson McCuen, followed by a fourth down Graham pass deflection.
“We try not to let the last play affect us,” Friedman said.
Set up by 35-yard bomb to Andrew Rizzo, Graham punched it into the end zone from the three. “Coach is setting up those play action plays,” White said. “You pound the run to set up the pass.”
Pennridge’s last drive of the first half was eventful. Trevor Picciotti went over a thousand yards for the year on a 44-yard burst. Aiden Tetkowski’s first completion of the night was a fourth down aerial that bounced off of Dornon Bradley and landed into the arms of Nate Derstine.
South killed the drive when Friedman hurried a fourth down pass that Sean Bulicki broke up.
“We knew they had other plays and we planned for them to start running other stuff,” Friedman shared. “We made a couple of adjustments. But the big thing was keeping the energy high and going 1-0 every play.
“The D Line works together amazingly. The secondary works together amazingly. Everyone comes together, works together and it makes us win games,” he concluded.
Jaylen Waldspurger’s interception gave Pennridge the ball at the Titan-35. Derstine converted a fourth down and Picciotti scored from the two four plays later to knot the game at 7 late in the third quarter.
Graham returned the kickoff to the Titan-45 and then punched it in nine plays later with a four-yard touchdown. The missed PAT made it 13-7 South.
Pennridge regained the lead, 14-13, on Derstine’s 25-yard touchdown catch with 3:09 remaining. South coolly countered with a 13-play drive, ending in Graham’s touchdown reception.
Graham had 17 touches for 85 yards. Haviland completed 7 of 11 passes for 83 yards.
“In short yardage situations, Gavin is definitely there to get us those yards. When he needs a breather, I can do the same thing. We compliment each other even when we’re both on the field,” White noted. “We both can go out for a pass.”
Picciotti led Pennridge with 110 yards on 18 carries. Tetkowski threw for 114 yards on 19 attempts.
South was the first team to score as many as a dozen points against the Rams, who also got strong special teams play. Austin Keller had two touchbacks and averaged over 40 yards per punt.
Post-season brackets will be formalized on Sunday. Pennridge will likely potentially host two games, while South almost certainly earned themselves a first round home game with the win.