To Run in the September 24th Bucks County Herald
This article didn’t need a catchy lead.
#1 versus #2 speaks for itself. On Friday night, #1 vs. #2 lived up to the billing.
Pennridge (4-0) stayed unbeaten and retained the top ranking in District One 6A with their 14-7 win over #2 CB West (3-1) at Helman Field.
Aiden Tetkowski hit Sean Leuthe in stride, and the senior raced 36 yards for the game winning touchdown with just 28 seconds left on the clock.
“I was quiet all game but (offensive coordinator) Coach (Jeff) Hollenbach saw their safeties expanding out on every pass play,” Leuthe shared. “We knew it was time for a big play. We ran a stop and go.
“We probably had our best week of practice all year,” Leuthe continued. “We knew that we couldn’t give up and the grittier team would probably take home a win.”
The Bucks were shut out until 9:27 remaining. Nick Miletto had two 20-yard plus touches on a six-play, 80-yard drive that ended on Louie Cipollo’s 12-yard touchdown out of the Wildcat.
The West defense forced a three-and-out, but promptly gave Pennridge great field position back when the Rams recovered a fumble at the Bucks’ 30. Mason Darrow, known better for being West’s highly touted kicker/punter, forced a loss on a third down pass play. The Rams’ 50-yard field goal attempt missed.
Darrow’s punt put the ball at the Rams’ 15 with 1:43 remaining. Two plays before Leuthe’s heroics, running back Trevor Picciotti caught a pivotal 34-yard swing pass.
“I sold my fake, I got out there, caught it and made my move. I lowered my shoulder and got a few extra yards,” recalled Picciotti, whose father and uncles ironically starred for CB West. “It set us up for another touchdown. The execution was amazing at the very end. I know my boys are doing their thing and getting their stuff done.”
Picciotti, who finished the game with 99 yards on 15 carries, played a big role in Pennridge’s first touchdown drive. He roared 43 yards into Buck territory on a safe third and long call. Bradley Dornon caught two passes to extend the drive and Tetkowski hit Blake Landherr for a 10-yard scoring strike with 14 seconds in the first half.
“I saw the hole open up and I hit that. I had to run down and get us some yards,” Picciotti said. “It set us up for a nice touchdown. All around- the line, the quarterback giving hand offs, the tight end- everyone got their job done.”
This was the breakout night for Dornon, who caught five balls for 69 yards while replacing the injured and talented Nate Derstine.
“This whole week, I’ve been locked into the playbook. I usually play slot but this week I had to move out to X,” Dornon said. “They were one on one with me and I think that Aiden and I have the connection to beat that coverage.”
“With Nate getting hurt, someone had to step up,” Leuthe said. “Brad was making great plays and I think him making great plays all game helped to open me up.”
West had an impressive opening drive, moving 55 yards in eight plays before losing a fumble on the Ram 16.
“They didn’t shake and there was no negativity,” praised Ram head coach Kyle Beller. “They just kept playing and focused on doing the little things right.
“I wish I could tell you that I did this or that. I think the kids just settled down with the game plan,” Beller added. “We had done some technique things wrong. But it came down to the kids. Chuck Long made some really big plays after we moved him this week.”
A 14-7 game naturally yields some great defensive performances. Miletto stopped Ronin Loch for no gain on fourth down to kill a Pennridge drive in the second. Landherr made consecutive tackles for loss on third and fourth down to end a West drive in the third quarter.
Ram Matt Schaefer had 11 carries for 59 yards. Tetkowski completed 11 of 22 passes for 162 yards. For West, Miletto gained 88 yards on 14 carries. Braylen Cape added 51 yards on seven rushes.
West and Pennridge won all of their first six games by at least 12 points. “We bent a little bit and we knew we were going to. Guys like Cipollo…they are dudes,” Beller commended. “They are going to get theirs. That’s a great football team, right there.”
“It started last year when Coach said to set the standard,” Dornon said. “We go into every week with the mindset of giving everything we’ve got.”
It does not get much easier next Friday for either school. CB West hosts North Penn while Pennridge- still number one- travels to CB East.