Upper Dublin flies high in District 1-5A quarterfinal win over Great Valley

UPPER DUBLIN >> On the sturdy wing of Colin O’Sullivan and the churning legs of Nyfise McIntyre, Upper Dublin powered its way to a 35-0 victory over Great Valley in the District 1-5A Quarterfinals Friday night.

The Cardinals scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, had a 28-0 lead by the break, and went sprinting into a semifinal rematch with rival Plymouth-Whitemarsh.

“To come out and be able to do that in the first quarter was really impressive for us,” said O’Sullivan, who zipped passes to five different receivers throughout the night and lofted three scoring strikes, including two for over 60 yards. “It feels great when you can stand up there clean. All props to those guys up front – they kept me clean back there. With the weapons I have, being able to pick and choose like that, it’s a lot of fun.”

The top-seeded Cardinals also kept their record spotless at 12-0 and will try to avenge last season’s overtime quarterfinal loss to the Colonials. Upper Dublin’s offensive onslaught Friday night was as balanced as it was brutish: the Cards gained 149 on the ground, another 279 through the air.

“We were clicking on both,” said Cards coach Bret Stover. “That’s what you gotta be able to do. We’re excited about the opportunity.”

A tremendous season came to a close for No. 8 Great Valley (8-4). Quarterback Braeden Melia completed 13 of 23 passes for 121 yards for the Patriots in defeat.

Upper Dublin marched right downfield on its opening series.

O’Sullivan hit Griffin Pensabene for 14 yards and Djevanni Cerisier for 19 to get things rolling. McIntyre burst into the end zone from 14 yards out and it was 7-0 Cardinals on a wet, breezy night on the turf at Cardinal Stadium.

After the Upper Dublin defense forced a punt, the Cardinal offense was back in the end zone in three plays.

O’Sullivan delivered a strike on the right side to Cerisier, who took it 62 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead.

That lead grew to 21-0 when Starling Reaves gathered in a 22-yard toss from O’Sullivan, who would throw for 279 yards while McIntyre gained 125 on the ground.

“Being able to run the ball like that opens up so much in the passing game,” O’Sullivan said. “The guys up front worked their butts off so I owe it all to them.”

O’Sullivan’s second long strike, again from 62 yards, this time to Chris Kohlbrenner, provided a 28-0 cushion at the break.

Said Stover of the fast start: “I was very happy with the way we came out of the locker room.”

McIntyre crashed into the end zone from three yards out to push the lead to 35-0 early in the fourth, enforcing the running clock.

Along with their offensive mastery, the Cardinals also blocked a punt on special teams and the defense plugged up the running lanes – allowing the Pats just 15 rushing yards – and pressured Melia all night.

“The defense played well and the starters played into the fourth quarter, which they hadn’t done in a while (due to mercy-rule victories),” Stover said. “So it was good to get our stamina back. It was good for the starters to play into the fourth quarter and then get some younger guys in – they do the dirty work all week.”

District 1-5A Quarterfinals

Upper Dublin 35, Great Valley 0

Great Valley 0 0 0 0 – 0

Upper Dublin 21 7 0 7 – 35

First Quarter

UD: McIntyre 14 run (Austin Pendleton kick), 10:02.

UD: Djevanni Cerisier 62 pass from O’Sullivan (Pendleton kick), 6:50.

UD: Starling Reaves 22 pass from O’Sullivan (Pendleton kick), 1:28.

Second Quarter

UD: Chris Kohlbrenner 62 pass from O’Sullivan (Pendleton kick), :25.

Fourth Quarter

UD: McIntyre 3 run (Pendleton kick), 10:30.

GV                       UD

First Downs                  11             20

Rushes-yards               18-15        31-149

Passing (c-a-i)              13-24-0     11-15-0

Passing yards               121           279

Total yards                    136           428

Fumbles-lost                 1-0            2-0

Punts                            4               1

Penalties-yards             5-35           10-100

Rushing

GV: Jack Coffey 9-19; Braeden Melia 6-(-8); Nick Pellicciotta 2-4; Colin Kiselak 1-0.

UD: McIntyre 23-125, 2 TD; O’Sullivan 1-1; Shyne Roberts 1-2; Dom Paone 5-18; Jacob Cornbluth 1-3.

Passing

GV: Melia 13-23-121-0-0; Kiselak 0-1-0-0-0.

UD: O’Sullivan 11-15-279-3-0.

Receiving

GV: Tommy Crouse 2-13; Coffey 3-49; Jackson Callahan 4-41; Joseph Newell 2-18; Gavin Masiowski 2-0.

UD: Griffin Pensabene 4-51; Cerisier 2-81, TD; Reaves 3-65, TD; Kohlbrenner 1-62, TD; Coleman Zamborsky 1-20.