Tagged under: District 12, Gameday Hub, News, Non-PIAA
Billy Splain | September 14, 2023
When push came to show, the Springside Chestnut Hill line started shoving. But it wasn’t until the fourth quarter. Trailing 14-13 with just over 3 minutes to play, the Blue Devil offensive line, led by Monmouth commit Mitch Karp, started to shove a Lincoln line that, for three quarters, held the Devils in check. The first big play came when they gave quarterback Tommy Markey time to hit Tyler Roberts for a big fourth down conversion at the Lincoln 31. Then with just under 2 minute they opened a gapin hole that allowed Jayden Sumpter to finally break loose for the 31 yard go ahead score. Markey hit Roberst for the two making the final score 21-14. Sumpter finished the game with 156 yards on 33 carries. “I knew the line would come through. They started slow but I never doubted them” said Sumpter.
Sumpter giver the Blue Devils the lead with 2:19 to go. @J6ydot_ straight up the gut. 31 yards. Markey to Robert’s for the 2. @schfootball up 21-14. pic.twitter.com/BMkYyERTrt
— Pennsylvania Football News (@PaFootballNews) September 14, 2023
“There was a little frustration. A little bit of things aren’t going so well. Obviously we feel like we have a great running back but they just stacked the box and their players played unbelievable. When their players started playing back, that’s when we got that big run to take the lead” said head coach Rick Knox.
Both teams struggled to move the ball for most of the first 2 quarters. It wasn’t until there was just over 4:30 left in the first half when the first points hit the scoreboard. Markey threw a long ball that was picked off and returned 94 yards to give Lincoln a 6-0 lead. Dyrell Steele jumped up, took the ball, made a few nice moves and was off to the races.
Splitters take lead on 94 yard pick six by Dyrell Steele. @RailsplittersFB 6–0. 4:21 second pic.twitter.com/5yLbiudLGR
— Pennsylvania Football News (@PaFootballNews) September 14, 2023
The Blue Devil offense responded with a drive that started at the 44, moved back to the 33 then ended with a beautiful 30 yard td pass from Markey to Roberts. The point after was good giving SCH a 7-6 lead at the break.
30 yard Td pass from Tommy Markey to Tyler Robert’s. @schfootball takes a 7-6 lead with 1:51 left first half pic.twitter.com/zrPOejleuf
— Pennsylvania Football News (@PaFootballNews) September 14, 2023
Markey threw his second interception on the opening drive of the second half, but the defense held and the Blue Devils went 60 yards and took the lead on a one yard run by Markey. They didn’t get the point after keeping the score 13-6 Blue Devils at the end of the third quarter. “I’m just happy I kept my head in the game and didn’t panic” said Markey of his ability to overcome his mistakes.
The Railsplitters, one could say are favored to win the 6A Pub title, still had a lot of fight in them. Gabe Smalley, who played a good game behind center, hit on four straight completions and 5 of 6 on the next drive, the last a 13 yard td pass to a wide open Roling Davis. Then Smalley ran in for the two pointer to give Lincoln a 14-13 lead with 9:32 left to play.
Wide open. Gabe Smalley finds Roling Davis for the 13 yard Td. Then Smalley gets the two and it’s @RailsplittersFB 14 @schfootball 13 with 9:32 left pic.twitter.com/sf9j3xpLaR
— Pennsylvania Football News (@PaFootballNews) September 14, 2023
On the ensuing drive, the Blue Devils offense continued to make ground and got to the Railsplitter 6 but the Lincoln defense made a great fourth down stop. From there, the Springside Chestnut Hill defense stopped the Railsplitters forcing a punt that landed at the Blue Devil 45. The momentum of the previous two drives gave Springside enough energy to get the win. “That a really good football team over there” said Knox
Karp said it took a while for them to recognize the defense the Railsplitters were throwing at them so it took a while, but when we did we just started shoving them”.
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