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Parkland’s “special” win over Whitehall

Written by: EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Saturday, November 5th, 2011. Follow EasternPAFootball.com Staff on Twitter.

OREFIELD – Playoffs are a week away in District 11, but tonight’s final game felt like a playoff atmosphere Friday night. What was at stake? The winner was guaranteed a spot in the District 2-4-11 Class 4A sub-regional.

Tonight, Parkland’s (8-2) special teams stood out as they scored twice in the first half and ran a heavy dose of the “bob cat” as the Trojans held on to a hard fought 22-13 win over Whitehall Friday night in a Lehigh Valley Conference game.

After a scoreless first half, Whitehall drove 66-yards on 12 plays that resulted in an Andrew Harris one-yard score up the middle. Tyler George’s kick put the Zephyrs up 7-0.

The Trojans got a gift of two-points when a punt sailed over Whitehall punter Ryan Bonshak’s head and sailed into the end zone. He knocked the ball out of bounds for a safety. The Trojans trailed 7-2.

On the next Zephyr possession deep in their territory, they lined up for another punt attempt with 57.4 seconds remaining in the half. This time Parkland’s Eli Redaman came through to block the punt. Xavier Roden recovered the punt in the end zone to put the Trojans up 8-7 at halftime.

It was a defensive battle in the first half. Whitehall had 125 total yards of offense and held Parkland to 97 total yards and five first downs. But two Whitehall miscues on punts put Parkland up.

The Trojans opened up their passing game to start the third quarter. Quarterback Tim Baranek found a wide-open Scott Brannan for a 40-yard completion. The Trojans extended their lead to 15-7 late in the quarter.

Whitehall finally got their offense going in the fourth quarter. Tanner Madouse caught an 18-yard pass from Nicholas Shafniksy to pull the Zephyrs within two. A failed two-point conversion preserved the Parklandl lead, 15-13.

With 1:52 remaining in the contest, Rob Dvoracek’s three-yard run put the nail in the coffin and with the win Parkland is the fourth seed in the District Playoffs. Whitehall will have to wait and see if they make District playoffs or the Eastern Conference.

NOTE: Rob Dvoracek went over 1,000 yards rushing last night.