To run in the October 29th Bucks County Herald
Is it the best Bucks football human interest story this fall?
Quakertown was 0-4, and trailing with two minutes left in their week five game.
But after Friday’s 35-14 victory at Upper Dublin, the #12 Panthers (5-4, 4-1 SOL Continental) not only sealed their fifth win in a row, but also clinched a share of the SOL Continental after Council Rock South’s upset win over previously unbeaten Plymouth-Whitemarsh.
“After we went 0-4, we had a players’ only meeting and talked about some things with Coach (George Banas),” James Wehrheim shared. “We knew all along what needed to be done. Everyone needed that confidence and a little kick in the butt.”
The Panthers had a minus four turnover ratio in their opening four games. They have a plus nine ratio over their last five contests.
“Focus is a big part of it,” said Dom Ferrugio.
Upper Dublin’s second possession ended near midfield when Elliott Martin picked off Lawson Tyler’s pass; Tyler was under heavy pressure from Ferrugio. Five plays later, Carter Tucholski hit Ryan Berlanda in the right corner of the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown.
The Cardinals responded, with Ant Paone racing 43 yards on 4th and 3 to knot the game at 7.
Late in the second quarter, Daimon Lowande-Richardson ripped a punt return 30 yards to the Cardinal-30. Tucholski connected with James Wehrheim for a nine-yard touchdown. The blocked PAT made the halftime score 13-7.
“We called the time out. My receivers coach told me exactly how we wanted to run the route,” Wehrheim explained. “The quarterback told me where he was going to put the ball and we executed a big play.”
Wehrheim blew the game in the third quarter with a 74-yard bomb, setting up Marcus Baxter’s three-yard touchdown run. Ferrugio caught the conversion pass.
“It’s a play we’ve had forever, but we switched the formation a little bit,” Wehrheim described. “I put my hand in the ground five yards from the tackle. We got enough time in the pocket and the quarterback delivered a great strike.”
Quakertown made it 28-7 when a Mason Pavone strip sack gave the Panthers a short field and Gavin Handschumacher barreled in from the two.
Kevin Williams caught a touchdown pass to put UD on the board; Wehrheim responded with a 10-yard scoring catch.
Including sacks, the Cardinals lost 31 yards on the ground. Pavone had four sacks.
“All week long, we’ve been pounding it down,” said Ferrugio, a tight end/defense end. “My other ends and I try so hard on the outside. We put in that work so we have to get it.”
Lowande-Richardson picked up 79 yards on 16 carries. Tucholski completed 14 of 23 passes to five different receivers for 209 yards. Wehrheim grabbed six balls for 124 yards.
Tucholski dashed into the end zone for the lead in the final minute of Quakertown’s September 25th game at Council Rock South. Ever since, the Panthers’ fortunes have turned 180 degrees.
Quakertown won blowouts against CR North and Bensalem. They won another nailbiter- rallying in the final 100 seconds to top Souderton. Now, they’ve also won at least a portion of a conference title.
“James covered it perfectly,” Ferrugio concluded. “We came together as a team. Divided we fall and together we rise.”
The Panthers are favored in their unique matchup on Halloween afternoon, heading to William Penn in New Castle, DE.