Bennett boots Easton Area out of the playoffs, 17-14

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, December 5th, 2009. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

BETHLEHEM – With the snow coming down and the turf looking white, LaSalle had to battle the elements and a two-touchdown deficit to win 17-14 over the Red Rovers Saturday in a PIAA Class 4A state quarterfinal playoff game at Frank Banko field.

The Red Rovers scored after their first two plays from scrimmage. After intercepting a Drew Loughery pass, quarterback Justin Pacchioli got the Red Rovers going. He hit Kadeem Pankey for a 21-yard score. Chris Roubik’s kick made it 7-0 Red Rovers.

The Red Rovers would add to their lead in the first quarter. Running back Jashaad Gaddy took the reverse and went 85-yard for a score with 5:20 left. The Red Rovers led 14-0.

It was gut check time for LaSalle. Head coach Drew Gordon said, “I think our kids were worried about the wrong things.”

The Explorers offense woke up in the second quarter. Early in the quarter Loughery hit Connor Hoffman for a big gain to the 16. Three plays later Loughery’s 17-yard run cut the Red Rover’s lead in half, 14-7.

Easton Area would end up turning the ball over. The ball would slip out of the hands of running back Quran Hughes. The Explorers Steve Szostak recovered the ball on the Red Rovers 21 yard line.

Three straight runs by Tim Wade setup the score. Loughery hit Steve Jones for the five-yard touchdown pass. Mike Bennett’s extra point would tie the game up at 14 with 7:10 left in the first half.

With 53 seconds left in the third quarter LaSalle drove down to the Red Rovers 17 yard line. With the snow coming down hard, Bennett calmly kicked a 34-yard field goal straight through the pipes giving LaSalle a 17-14 lead.

Late in the fourth quarter the Red Rovers had one more chance to take the lead. After a roughing the punter penalty that gave the Red Rovers life, they drove down to the LaSalle 18 yard line. Sinnott sacked Pacchioli for a 13-yard loss. After two incomplete passes, Jamal Abdur-Rahman intercepted a Pacchioli pass with 3:14 left, ending the Red Rovers drive.

Quarterback Drew Loughery passed for 75 yards on 7 of 18 passing.

Gaddy and Hughes combined for 90 yards rushing. Pacchioli finished with 67 yards passing.

The Red Rovers finished with a 13-2 record and the 13 wins ties a school record.

With the win LaSalle (12-1) will take on District 1 champ Ridley (13-1) who defeated North Penn 19-10 Friday night.

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4 Responses to “Bennett boots Easton Area out of the playoffs, 17-14”

1. Dog21 says:
   December 8th, 2009 at 6:17 pm

   Don’t count Wood out. They lost 18 starters from last yes team but found a way to get back t eastern final again. It should be a great game. Selinsgrove is a great team and prob the favorite but so was Pottstown. Last years game was a close game and I would expect the same this yr now that they both know each other now. They are both clearly the elite teams in AAA.

2. Nick says:
   December 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pm

   RE:Big Ups
   “even after the refs tried to give the game away with the roughing the kicker penalty”

   That was a good call by the officials. You can’t run over the kicker just because the snap was bad.

   All in all, this was a solid game. I think the elements really dealt Easton’s game a huge blow. As the field got sloppier, Easton’s speed was severely reduced.

   Give credit to LaSalle, though, for bouncing back from an early deficit and getting the win. I look forward to seeing them in the next round.

3. footballfan says:
   December 6th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

   big ups lasalle and west catholic will probably win but wood is not beating selinsgrove this weekend

4. Big Ups says:
   December 6th, 2009 at 2:53 pm

   Easton fans did not respect LaSalle at all. Most thought the game was over after the 14-0 start. Seemed stunned when they came back, and even after the refs tried to give the game away with the roughing the kicker penalty, LaSalle showed their toughness. LaSalle does not get enough credit for being tough because they are “pass-happy” on offense. The PCL is the best league in the state, just look at what Archbishop Wood and West Catholic are doing in AAA and AA playoffs. Wouldn’t put it past all three winning the state championships.