To run in the September 18th Bucks County Herald
On a third and ten early in the fourth quarter, Council Rock South linebacker Nate Szydlik wrapped up Cheltenham quarterback Kendall Jackson for a loss of 11 that forced the Panthers to punt from their own end zone.
When that punt was returned to the Cheltenham-13, Szydlik took the first down handoff in for a touchdown to put the host Golden Hawks up 28-20.
That is what all-state players do. Szydlik, who had 17 tackles for loss last year, made the Pennsylvania Football Writers All-State squad last fall.
That score held as the final as CR South (3-1, 1-0 SOL Continental) scored the final 22 points in both team’s divisional opener. Szydlik, back after being injured in the first quarter of South’s first game, had 133 yards on eight touches and two huge sacks on defense.
“I’m ready to go and excited for the year,” exclaimed Szydlik, who has already received several FCS offers.
South dug themselves an early hole. Cheltenham (1-3, 0-1 Continental) brought the SOL Player of Week 3 into Newtown with James Smith, who scored in the Panthers’ September 5th upset over Neshaminy with a pick-six, run and kickoff return. Smith ran for a 19-yard touchdown on the game’s first drive and added a pick-six six plays later.
He nearly duplicated his three-way touchdown feat but a punt returned for touchdown was called back for a hold.
Marley Emerson hit Joey Madara on a 15-yard score to put CR South on the board. Cheltenham countered with a Melo Stehman 3-yard rushing touchdown to extend the lead to 20-7 halfway through the second.
And then the Panthers offense stopped. After racking up 191 first half yards, South shutout Cheltenham and surrendered just one first down in the second half.
“The second half, we cranked everything up. The defense yielded no points and we had plenty of three-and-outs,” explained Madara, who had two tackles for loss. “We turned it up and played better.”
“We started playing team football,” Szydlik added. “In the first half, we had guys trying to solo tackle. In the second half, the big thing in the locker room was everybody to the ball. And our DBs played great. They didn’t allow a lot of separation and our line got to their quarterback.”
Meanwhile, South chipped away. Shane Myers scored on a three-yard run, set up on a drive when Emerson to Szydlik converted on a 4th and 15.
“No matter what down it is, I am thinking touchdown and go score,” Szydlik offered. “Especially on fourth down, when your team needs you to make a play, go make one.”
Cheltenham drove to the South-10 late in the first half, but Szydlik sacked the Panthers out of field goal range; the Panther attempt from 29 was short.
“Before every play, I’m thinking: ‘Go do it. Go make a play.’ Our D line did great,” Szydlik said. “They created the hole for me. All I had to do was go in and make the tackle.”
Madara hauled in a 13-yard Emerson offering with 44 seconds left in the third to put the Golden Hawks up 21-20…for their first lead of the game and a lead that they would not surrender.
“It was the same play for both touchdowns, on the back side,” Madara noted. “(Marley) threw a heck of a ball both times. They were lasers.”
South has held their first four opponents to 21 or fewer points. Offensively, Emerson completed 8 of 14 passes for 107 yards.
CR South continues their four game homestand by hosting Upper Dublin next Friday.