Souderton hands CB West first loss in 2OT thriller

FRANCONIA >> Will Leyland missed a pair of field goals but the Souderton football team made sure the senior kicker did not get too down on himself.

“The support that I had from everybody. And we are a brotherhood,” Leyland said. “Everybody was coming up to me saying, ‘Hey Will, we’re going to need you — let’s go, let’s go, keep it going.’”

The Indians ended up needing Leyland in double overtime after Central Bucks West’s extra point was denied by the cross bar. Jalen White’s 10-yard touchdown run pulled Big Red level and Leyland booted his extra point through the uprights to kick off a joyous onfield celebration as Souderton revived its SOL Continental titles hopes by outlasting the previously unbeaten Bucks 28-27 Friday night.

“It definitely was not my best game honestly,” Leyland said. “It was probably one of my worst games this entire year but to win it like that, to have that team, that brotherhood at my back, there’s nothing better than that, it was beautiful to see.”

White had a pair of rushing touchdown while Andrew Vince threw for 124 yards, ran for a touchdown in the first OT and also preserved a 14-14 tie by blocking CB West’s 36-yard go-ahead field goal attempt in the final seconds of the fourth quarter.

“I was on the sideline, holding, linking arms with my buddy, I prayed to God that something happen,” White said. “Thank God, thank God. Amazing feeling when he blocked that.”

DeAndre Wakefield collected 91 yards and a touchdown on 16 carried and added another 39 yards on three catches as the victory gives Souderton (8-1, 4-1 conference) a chance to split the Continental title with CB West if Big Red can beat Central Bucks South at home in Week 10. Souderton’s last conference championship came in 2007.

“Unbelievable,” Vince said. “These past couple years, things haven’t been clicking for us but just getting this win and moving to 8-1 it really shows just how much these guys want it and how much we’re fighting.”

 

 

Central Bucks West — which clinched at least a share of the Continental title last week in its win over North Penn — held the lead just once Friday, when Jack Fallon ran around the right side and fought for a 10-yard touchdown on the first play of the second overtime. The extra point by Bailey Moyer, however, appeared to take a deflection before hitting the crossbar to keep West up 27-21.

Souderton was back even just a play later, White going around the left side, staying inbounds then dashing for a 10-yard score.

“When we got the ball back, me and Gallagher we gave each other a look, we nodded to each other, we knew what had to happen,” White said. “The whole offense got the job done, can’t say much else.”

Leyland’s successful extra point put and end to West’s unbeaten run with the Bucks’ bid for the outright Continental crown now in the hands of their rival CB South. CB West (8-1, 5-1) caps its regular season with a nonconference game at home against Abington, which claimed the outright SOL National title by beating Pennsbury 49-28 Friday.

“When playing in these tight games it always comes down to a couple plays here or there and they made them tonight,” Bucks coach Rob Rowan said. “They blocked that extra point and we didn’t. Last week we blocked the extra point and that was difference. Kudos to them, they played a hell of a football game.

“I thought our guys we didn’t come out the way we typically do, we started a little slower than normal. But I was really proud of the way that we played in the second half and through overtime.”

Nick Tumolo paced CB West with 94 yards on 14 carries while Fallon finished with 87 yards and a score on 21 carries and also had an interception on defense. Quarterback Jack Neri had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.

“It’s a tossup and if we’re fortunate enough to beat South next week, I’m proud to share the title with that team cause that’s a heck of a football team we beat tonight,” Indians coach Ed Gallagher said.

FRENETIC FOURTH

The Bucks made it 14-14 with just 5:44 left in the fourth on Neri’s 1-yard quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal. A Willie Goods kickoff return set the Indians up at the West 47 on the ensuing drive and on a 4th-and-12 from the 19, the Indians elected for the go-ahead field goal but Leyland’s try from 36 yards out was ruled no good.

“I don’t know what happened, I thought it was good, it looked like it was it good,” he said. “But I mean I guess the ref has the final say in it, so whatever he said goes. But I knew it was good, I knew nothing was wrong with the operation, I knew we were fine. So, I just went back, composed myself, knew that they needed me so I just stayed focused.”

Two plays later, Tumolo’s broke a 51-yard run to put West on the Souderton 32. On 2nd-and-10 from the 20 with 14 seconds left, the Bucks had Moyer attempt a 36-yard field goal only for Vince to get into the backfield for a diving block.

“Evan Kutzler was to my left and he really shot down and took that wing with him and I was just able to sneak overtop of his leg and get in there and block the kick,” Vince said. “So, I mean, it was a huge play.”

Souderton took over at the West 47 with only 2.6 seconds left and its hook-and-lateral attempt on the final play of regulation came up well short of the end zone.

Vince gave the Indians a 21-14 lead in the opening possession of the first overtime, crossing the goal line on a 3-yard QB keeper on 3rd-and-Goal. Big Red’s defense had West facing a 4th-and-Goal from the seven but Neri lofted a pass into the end zone for Jack Fileppo and Moyer’s extra point knotted things at 21.

“Jack Neri made an unbelievable play,” Rowan said. “He held onto it as long as he can for that to clear through and it’s something that we’ve been working on and that was the right time to pull it out.”

FAST START FOR BIG RED

Souderton grabbed a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening series, White capping a five-play, 75-yard drive by going around the left side, slipping free of a tackle attempt and racing 36 yards for a touchdown at 9:39 in the first quarter.

“I got the ball, DeAndre Wakefield on the wing — amazing block,” White said. “Everyone else on the line — amazing block. Wide open hole, had to hit it.”

The Bucks made it 7-7 in the final minute of the first quarter on a nine-play, 80-yard drive. Neri connected with Nick Olear for a 34-yard completion down to the Souderton 12 and three plays later Neri scored on a 1-yard QB sneak at 55.2 seconds.

The Indians took a 14-7 lead on a flag-filled drive in the second quarter. Vince appeared to have scored on a 31-yard touchdown run but that was negated by a holding call. Souderton went on to convert a 4th-and-4 to reach the 25 but a personal foul after the play backed Big Red up to the 40.

However, West was flagged for roughing the passer on the next play with the Indians picking up another first down due to defense pass interference, putting the ball on the Bucks 14. Two plays later, Wakefield scored on an 11-yard run with 2:09 left before halftime.