Sennott’s breakout night boosts Boyertown’s 34-21 win over Owen J. Roberts

BOYERTOWN >> No one was more pleased to see Cade Sennott’s breakout performance than Cole Yesavage.

Call it guilty pleasure.

Sennott, a junior running back/defensive back, got off to a delayed start this season thanks to a high ankle sprain suffered during preseason when he went to battle with the Bears’ backfield bruiser.

“I caught a pass and he tried to tackle me …” said Yesavage.

“He ran me over,” Sennott quickly added.

Yesavage and Sennott found together to be much better Friday night as the Bears were the ones running over and past people in their 34-21 victory over Owen J. Roberts on Boyertown’s Homecoming.

Sennott, Yesavage and Jason Oakes formed a three-headed monster in the Bears’ backfield, rushing for all five of the Bears’ TDs and over 300 yard. Oakes had 191 all-purpose yards (153 rushing, 38 receiving) while Yesavage pounded out 112 yards on 25 carries. Sennott rushed seven times for 36 yards and two TDs to help Boyertown reach 4-4 overall (2-2 PAC Liberty).

The Michael Reed-to-Danny Cashman connection was the leading light for the Wildcats (1-3 PAC Liberty, 4-4 overall). The senior QB-WR duo connected on 40- and 58-yard passing touchdowns for a pair of OJR scores. Cashman caught seven passes for 132 yards. Third-year starter Reed was 11-for-25 for 187 yards with two TDs and two INTs. Reed also ran for a 29-yard score in the second quarter.

Sennott didn’t just enjoy a breakthrough day fulfilling the void of the injured Anthony Famularo: he starred on defense with two interceptions.
“That was the best game of my life,” said Sennott. “Out of high school, that was definitely one of my favorites.”

Yesavage entered the day second in the Pioneer Athletic Conference in rushing, but his own statistics weren’t at all on his mind postgame.

“I love seeing other people succeed,” he said. “It’s a team game and everyone has to do their part, and Shady (Sennott) definitely did that. He picked it up and definitely showed himself out there.”

Boyertown got back on track after last week’s 10-7 loss at Methacton to earn the 400th win in program history.

“We’re feeling a lot of confidence off of that one. It helps a lot especially after last week,” Yesavage said. “We had some things happen this week that brought us down but this result definitely picks us up.

“That was a good change in momentum for us. We needed it,” Sennott said.

An even game on paper, the Bears tipped the scale in their favor by winning the battle on the lines, getting their own running game going while limiting the Wildcats’.

“The kids played very well. We had a rough week off the field this week and the kids had to mature quickly,” said Bears head coach Justin Konnick. “I’m proud of the kids in the way that challenges off the field helped them on the field.

“Owen J. Roberts has a hell of a front line and these kids worked their butts off to be in shape and we proved we were in better shape than they were. That’s why we won that game.”

The OJR defense had been formidable this year – it held Liberty leader Perkiomen Valley to 20 points – but didn’t respond to the Bears’ best efforts.
“They kicked our ass on both sides of the ball. Period,” said OJR coach Rich Kolka. “They won their 1-on-1 matchups up front and we did not.

“I thought we’d be able to handle the run better than we did tonight. We’re a solid defense overall so to come here and have them do what they did, hats off to them. They were more physical than us and that usually isn’t the case.”

By 10:55 of the second quarter, the Bears already exceeded their previous week’s output on Oakes’ 4-yard score.

OJR got on the board three minutes later when Reed scrambled for a 29-yard TD run to cap a seven-play, 61-yard drive.

The teams traded scores the remainder of the second quarter – a Sennott 3-yard run for the Bears; Reed connecting with Cashman on a 40-yard pass for OJR – to go into the break with Boyertown up 20-14.

Boyertown’s control on the game was solidified in the third quarter with a majestic 12-play drive that ate up 6:34 of game clock and was capped by Sennott’s 5-yard score.

The edge-eating Oakes ran for an 18-yard score courtesy of more good blocking from linemen Cole Marinello, Gavin Williams, Kyler Reyes, Austin Bouthillette and Jacob Carney with 3:54 to play to ice the Bears’ victory.

Boyertown quarterback Ryder Gehris was 7-for-11 for 118 yards with an interception (picked off by OJR’s Mason Miller).

OJR lead back Hunter Rhoads, who came into the game third in the PAC in rushing, was limited to 40 yards on 11 carries. The Wildcats were forced away from the run while trailing for the game’s duration.

With losses in three of their last four, it’s a call to action for the Wildcats.

“It’s football and we’re fortunate enough to be out here playing. We have two weeks left so it’s up to them. You’ve gotta rebound,” said Kolka. “You have a league opponent in Methacton coming up and then a crossover game. You win both games and you’ve got a shot at playoffs. That’s what you play for, so we’ll see.”

NOTES >> Brody Mazzerle caught two passes for 47 yards for OJR. … Christian Gregory and Brandon Kelley had sacks for OJR. Michael Palmiero had a sack for Boyertown.

 

SCORING
First quarter
BT-Yesavage 15 run (run failed)
Second quarter
BT-J Oakes 4 run (Ch Sennott kick)
OJR-Reed 29 run (Kish kick)
BT-Ca Sennott 3 run (Ch Sennott kick)
OJR-Cashman 40 pass from Reed (Kish kick)
Third quarter
BT-Ca Sennott 5 run (Ch Sennott kick)
Fourth quarter
BT-J Oakes 18 run (Ch Sennott kick)
OJR-Cashman 58 pass from Reed (Kish kick)

TEAM STATISTICS
OJR BT
First downs 11 22
Rushes yards 81 301
Passing yards 195 118
Total yards 276 419
Passes C-A-I 12-26-2 7-11-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 6-43 7-51
Punts-Avg. 3-34.0 3-36.7

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing
Owen J. Roberts: Reed 10-41, 1 TD; Rhoads 11-40; Yellowtail 1-0.
Boyertown: J Oakes 16-153, 2 TD’s; Yesavage 25-112, 1 TD; Ca Sennott 7-36, 2 TD’s; Hagan 1-0; Gehris
5-0.
Passing
Owen J. Roberts: Reed 11-25-187, 2 TD’s, 2INT’s; Rhoads 1-1-8
Boyertown: Gehris 7-11-118, 1 INT
Receiving
Owen J. Roberts: Cashman 7-132, 2 TD’s; Mazzerle 2-47; Yellowtail 2-10; Hinrichs 1-6
Boyertown: J Oakes 3-38; Chamberlain 2-42; Yesavage 1-28; Ca Sennott 1-10
Interceptions: Owen J. Roberts-Miller. Boyertown-Ca Sennott 2
Sacks: Owen J. Roberts-Gregory, Kelly. Boyertown-Palmiero, N Panarello 0.5, Deming 0.5