To run in the September 25th Bucks County Herald
In 2024, CB South beat CB West on a walk-off Hail Mary.
In 2025, it was CB West- specifically Gavin Todd- who caught CB South’s Hail Mary at the Buck goal line with 10 seconds remaining to preserve the host Bucks’ (4-1, 2-0 National) 25-21 win on Friday night.
“It was tough,” admitted junior linebacker Nick Miletto. “We gave them some chances at the end of the game. It was a jump ball, just like last year. I actually dropped the ball but Gavin caught it and sealed the game.”
Miletto unofficially had eight tackles- including three for loss or no gain- but his nine-yard conversion on a fourth-and-two midway through the fourth quarter was one of the game’s critical plays. Miletto scored from two yards out with 3:22 left to put West up 25-21.
“I don’t think I’ve ever not been on a fourth and short,” shared Miletto, who had 29 important yards on eight carries, and embraces his battering ram role. “The play was Wham. I followed my blocker and the hole opened up.”
South recovered a fumble at the West-11 on the second play of the game. Three plays later, Gavin Graham punched it in from the two to put the Titans up 7-0.
West countered when quarterback Louie Cipollo slithered through the South line on a designed run and raced 80 yards for a touchdown to knot the game at 7.
South exploited another West miscue. After the Bucks seemingly forced a three-and-out, the Titans recovered a fumbled punt. Five plays after converting a fourth down, Graham rushed for a 14-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. West’s Mason Darrows closed the half’s scoring with a 27-yard field goal.
On a third-and-14 late in the third quarter, South quarterback Cade Crim kept it and ran 16 yards to the West-16 to keep the drive alive. Graham capped the drive by bludgeoning in from the one two plays into the fourth quarter for his third TD of the night.
Three plays later, Cipollo hit Owen Pudlo on a 57-yard bomb for a touchdown. Cipollo’s 8-yard strike to Darrows converted the two points and cut the Titan lead to 21-18.
“On my run, on our first drive nothing was working,” Cipollo offered. “On our second drive, I saw the break and opening, I cut back a little bit and then it was off to the races.
Cipollo added that the Bucks had worked on his bomb all week. In West’s opener, “against Easton, I missed it,” Cipollo continued, “so it felt good to hit it. We’re a run, run, run team which causes the safeties to play up. And then we can hit the Go ball.”
After the Pudlo touchdown, the Buck defense forced a three-and-out and took over at midfield with 8:18 left, which set up their final scoring drive.
Big plays were the hallmark of CB South’s (2-3, 1-1 National) first two wins: Graham, Crim and James Schaeffer all had touchdown runs or catches of 74+ yards over the prior fortnight. West kept things in front, with South’s longest play going for 24 yards.
“It was our game plan,” Miletto said. (South) “runs similar plays. It’s not that hard to play against; it’s trying to bring the guy to the ground. We had some trouble at first against a certain play but after halftime, we got a little better with it and from there, our pass defense did the job.”
After dropping their opener, CB West allowed just 22 points in their next three games- all wins- including handing Souderton the Big Red’s first shutout since 2017.
“After week one, we’ve been practicing a lot harder,” Cipollo said. “We’ve been making fewer mistakes and executing on our plays.”
Cipollo led all rushers with 146 yards on 13 carries. Graham eclipsed 100 yards- 103- on 23 carries. Crim completed 10-of-18 passes for 85 yards.
Both schools battle a Lower Bucks foe next Friday- CB West heads to Neshaminy as CB South hosts Pennsbury.