Flags doom Penn Wood in loss to Massaponax

YEADON — Desman Johnson Jr. did not mince words after Penn Wood dropped a 26-23 nonleague decision to Massaponax High School Friday night at Kerr Field.

The senior quarterback pointed inward, to himself and the team, for the loss.

“They wanted it more,” Johnson said. “They just wanted it more. They had more heart. If we had more heart, we win that game.”

It didn’t help that the Patriots (3-2) suffered from a flurry of yellow flags while trying to stop the fierce pass rush Massaponax threw at Johnson. The Patriots were flagged eight times for holding, six in the first half as the Panthers (3-1), who hail from Fredericksburg, Va., took a 20-15 lead into the locker room at the break. 

Yet all those penalties did not keep Johnson from turning in another outstanding effort. The 6-2, 250-pounder was 12-for-20 for 284 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Nor could it keep the Patriots from putting a scare into the Panthers.

“This Penn Wood team, there’s a lot of talent,” Massaponax coach Eric Ludden said. “I don’t think I saw a dropped pass. The quarterback obviously was tough to tackle, but he has a great arm. At the end there, the only way they could win was if they scored quick. And he come out on the first play and scores.”

Sophomore Jordin Jones pulled in an 80-yard scoring pass from Johnson with 5:48 to play in the game to get the Patriots within 26-23. It was his second TD reception of the game. The 5-9, 160-pounder finished with five receptions for 147 yards.

“They were playing man,” Johnson said. “I know my receivers can beat any team man-on-man. So I trusted them. Obviously we’ve got to work on our o-line, our protections and communications. We’re going to be good.”

Massaponax, though, used its punishing running game to run out the clock. Junior Elijah Chris rushed 18 times for 118 yards and a touchdown to pace the balanced ground attack. Jacob Romero, also a junior, added 65 yards and two scores on 11 attempts. 

“They’re a really good team,” Penn Wood coach Ato Troop said of the Panthers. “They’re one of the best teams in Virginia. We wanted to play really good competition.”

The Patriots got what they wanted, the penalties just proved to be the difference.

“A lot of mistakes by us,” Troop said. “We had a couple of touchdowns called back in the second half because of the holds. One time we go down there and didn’t punch it in. That killed us. Getting down there and not scoring killed us.”

While Johnson was disappointed in the loss he is confident that the Patriots will get it together both for the start of the Del Val League season and by the time the District 1 Class 5A playoffs come around.

Penn Wood is ninth in the power rankings. The top 16 teams qualify for the District 1 playoffs. 

“We’re going to be ready by then,” Johnson said.