O’Donnell to Lochetta wins it in final seconds for CB East over Pennridge

BUCKINGHAM >> On occasion, Central Bucks East wide receiver Chris Lochetta has been known to call his own number. 

To be more accurate…

“I call my number around 20 times a game,” he said with a laugh, “but I’m really glad (quarterback Evan O’Donnell) finally listened to me on that one.”

Lochetta and O’Donnell — best friends on and off the field — kidded back and forth shortly after producing the game’s biggest play in the Patriots’ biggest win of the season. Lochetta, wanting the ball when it mattered most, gathered in a perfect strike from O’Donnell in the right corner of the end zone with just eight seconds to go, lifting CB East to a thrilling, come-from-behind 24-20 win over rival Pennridge.  

CB East is not only going to the playoffs, but going in hot. The Pats (6-4, 4-2 Suburban One League Continental Conference) are riding a four-game win streak, with this latest one the most exciting and most satisfying of the bunch. 

“You dream about this sort of thing ever since you put on a helmet,” said Lochetta, who caught five passes for 75 yards and set an East school record for touchdown receptions. 

“We played for each other,” O’Donnell said. “And we played for the playoff spot, and we did it.”

The seeds will become official Monday, but right now it looks like playoff-bound East, as the No. 15 seed, will go to No. 2 Coatesville in the first round of the District 1-6A Playoffs.

Trailing the Rams 20-17, the Patriots got the ball with 4 minutes and 36 seconds left to play. 

“I saw it in everyone’s eyes,” O’Donnell said of the huddle on that last, season-defining march. “Our whole offensive line played great the whole game. All of our skill players knew we had to go down and score. And they never gave up.”

Jake Ventresca (82 yards, TD) ran hard for four yards on a crucial 4th-and-1 to keep the drive alive, and soon after, O’Donnell pitched a shovel pass to Peyton Pflug to turn another fourth down into a first.

“On that last drive, we converted a lot of big fourth downs,” said Patriots coach John Donnelly, who has guided his team to the playoffs for the third time in four years.

CB East moved the ball 82 yards in 17 plays, taking the lead one final time. The Patriots led 10-0 and 17-7 in the first half on touchdown runs by Ventresca (10 yards) and Bryan Kelly (71 yards) before the Rams came roaring back after the break.  

“Cody’s done a great job,” Donnelly said of Pennridge coach Cody Muller. “I’ve known him for a long time. He’s doing a great job so it was a heck of a football game. We’ve had so many close games. And finally, down the stretch here, they’re going in our favor.”

Pennridge (4-6, 3-3 in the conference), which got its first-half TD on a QB sneak by Zak Kantor, got within 17-14 in the third quarter when Shane Hartzell returned a blocked punt 30 yards for a score.

“He has that capability,” Muller said of the linebacker and fullback. “He makes plays that can turn a game around.”

The Rams, fighting for a playoff spot as well, went ahead 20-17 when Kantor piled in on a two-yard sneak. There was 11:55 to go. Pennridge held the lead all the way until the final seconds. 

“I’m proud of how hard they fought. They always give you everything they have,” Muller said of his squad, which narrowly missed the postseason but will take on rival Quakertown on Thanksgiving Day. “Unfortunately against a good team like that, you can’t spot them points.”

Pennridge had some key missed tackles in the first half and was hurt by five penalties for 55 yards in the second half.

Still, the Rams held the lead until No. 8 caught it with eight seconds to go.

“He called it, and those guys have run that play in their sleep,” Donnelly said of the winning connection. “The protection was great, Evan threw it on time, and Chris ran a great route. The coverage was still pretty good, (but our guys) just willed it.

“I’ve been saying since the summer, these guys have the “it” factor. They just find a way. We’re not the biggest, fastest or strongest guys in District One, but these guys have a ton of grit and I am so proud to be associated with them.”