Easton Area – three games + eight days = Win Win Win
Written by: David Mika on Sunday, November 29th, 2009. Follow David Mika on Twitter.
EASTON – Easton Area was playing their third game in eight days. Would winning three games in eight days be too much for the Red Rovers? The Red Rovers had a 5-0 record against Parkland in the playoffs. Could the Red Rovers pull off this eight-day, HS football tour! The Red Rovers answered with a loud YES!
Two days ago on Thanksgiving Day the Red Rovers defeated arch rival Phillipsburg 26-10. The Rovers pulled out the hat trick Saturday night defeating Parkland 21-14 for the District 11 4A championship. This was the second time the Red Rovers have won three games in eight days. The other time was in 2004.
As the Red Rovers gathered around their head coach Steve Shiffert after the game you could see the emotions running high on everyone’s faces. Head Coach Steve Shiffert talked about what this win meant to him, ”Sure we believed we could do it. We know our kids and what they have been through in the last week. They’ve worked hard and we beat some pretty good football teams.”
Parkland drove early on the Red Rovers. They were facing a fourth-and-one. They went for it and were stuffed by Zach Bambary and company.
That would set the tone for the entire game.
The Red Rovers took over the ball on their six. They went 94 yards for the score. Quarterback Justin Pacchioli capped off the 15-play drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Chris Roubik’s extra point was good and the Red Rovers led 7-0.
After a fumble on the kickoff return the Red Rovers would score 38 seconds later on their next drive. Pacchioli hit Kadeem Pankey for a nine-yard touchdown pass with 1:00 remaining in the first quarter. The Red Rovers led 14-0.
In the second quarter both teams would trade scores. Parkland’s Josh Rueda scored on a three-yard run. Pacchioli hit Quran Hughes for a 10-yard touchdown pass giving the Red Rovers a 21-7 lead.
In the fourth quarter Parkland would cut the lead to seven when tailback Andre Williams went in for a five-yard score with 2:38 remaining.
The Trojans tried an onside kick that was recovered by Eastons’ Justin Souders.
The Red Rovers failed to get a first down and had to punt. Parkland took over on their 24-yard line with 55 seconds left.
The Trojans season came down to a fourth-and-nine, Williams was stuffed and the Red Rovers would celebrate a hard fought 21-14 win over Parkland.
Justin Pacchioli finished the game completing 11 of 15 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown.
Pacchioli said, “Nobody thought we could win three times in eight days. We had the motivation in the world to come out and win this game.”
Easton Area (13-1) plays LaSalle (11-1) in the PIAA 4A quarterfinals game at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium Saturday at 1pm.
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January 11th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
im the sophomore kicker for easton and i can tell you if it didn’t snow we would have had no trouble beating la salle and winning states
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 am
north penn beat easton this time in 2003 and they will beat easton again this year then we will beat bishop to win states and be 15 -0 again this year easton is good but not that good sorry
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:05 am
north penn beat easton this same time in 2003 and they will again this year then we will beat bishop to win states and be 15-0 again i was on the np team in 03 and easton is good but sorry not that good
December 1st, 2009 at 1:28 am
easton is def not beating north penn. they may not even beat lasalle. But the best team in AAAA is bishop mcdevitt
November 30th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Easton can not beat North Penn
November 30th, 2009 at 8:26 am
Go Rovers! One of the greatest feats in Lehigh Valley sports history. What’s not mentioned is that Phillipburg (who they beat handily)is playing for the NJ state championship this weekend.
November 29th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Easton will beat Lasalle and North Penn and win the State title
November 29th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I am surprised Easton had enough left in the fuel tank to get this done. I am impressed with the Red Rovers.
November 29th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
thats very impressive good luck the rest of the way