Football: Fisher helps Penncrest hold on for victory

MIDDLETOWN — Staring at consecutive losses to open the season, Penncrest found itself at a crossroads entering its Media Bowl showdown with Strath Haven.

The Lions’ strong core group of veterans knew a win was vital and several of those seniors took matters into their own hands — albeit with a little help from their underclass brethren — to hang on to a wild 27-21 victory.

“We’re happy we got the win,’ Penncrest coach Rick Stroup said. “The kids did a really good job. Obviously (Paul Somaru) and (Nick Milone) are really good players and we just had to make sure we limited their big plays.’

Led by seniors Dan Fisher, Jonah Jackson, Diego Zubieta (sack), Bobby McCafferty (six catches, 57 yards), and Andrew Benecke (sack), among others, the Lions pounced on the opportunity to turn their season around. After stopping a long Panthers drive, to start the game Penncrest played with confidence early as its opening drive was a 15-play, 97-yard masterpiece. Fisher was in complete control of Lions offense using both his arm and his legs to carve up the Panthers defense. The drive was capped when Fisher hit a wide-open Benton King for an 8-yard touchdown.

The Panthers did not sulk after giving up the touchdown, however. Strath Haven took advantage of prime field position at its 49-yard line due to a penalty and a short kickoff. Milone darted down the sideline for a 40-yard run that eventually set up Rob Magee’s 1-yard scoring run.

The Lions took command of the game when junior Ryan Kinnard scored a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs, but the Panthers once again displayed resilience. Kinnard (34 yards) and fellow junior John Batipps (79 yards) combined to be a formidable rushing attack behind the staunch Penncrest offensive line.

“We needed this win,’ said Fisher, who finished 14 of 19 for 129 yards, while also rushing for 101 yards. “We picked up our tempo at practice, made some slight changes on the offensive line, and we could run the ball tonight. The biggest thing was picking up the tempo at practice. In week one and week two, it just wasn’t there.’

Little by little Strath Haven crept back into the game. Magee added his second touchdown run of the game to cut the Lions advantage to 20-14, but even after sophomore Joe Quintilliano answered with a 14-yard scoring run for Penncrest; the Panthers never gave up.

Trailing 27-14, Panthers quarterback Nick Fender hit Milone with a 59-yard touchdown pass. Milone, who also tallied 59 yards rushing, hauled in the pass and then turned on the jets. The senior speedster dashed to the end zone to make it a 27-21 contest.

Strath Haven had one last bit comeback attempt in them. Following a Denzil Lezenby sack of Fisher, the Panthers forced Penncrest to punt with just over three minutes to go in the game. In a wild occurrence, the ensuing snap sailed high and resulted in a 27-yard loss that gave Strath Haven the ball at the Lions 24-yard line with 2:54 remaining in the contest.

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