Great Valley can’t capitalize, get stops against Academy Park

 

SHARON HILL — It’s an acquired set of skills, the ability to finish drives on offense and get stops on defense.

Great Valley did a lot of learning this fall after losing 30 seniors to graduation last year, but maybe the most impactful lesson came in the toughest of circumstances.

The No. 4 Patriots failed to capitalize on multiple scoring chances and couldn’t find a way to slow down top-seeded Academy Park’s offense, resulting in a 39-14 defeat on the road in the Class AAA District 1 semifinal.

Great Valley had just six seniors on the team, and their run as 3A District 1 champs ended Friday.

“Any time you play a team like Academy Park and you’re in the red zone twice and don’t score, it’s tough,” Great Valley coach Dan Ellis said. “They’re a good team and we made a couple errors and that’s what happened.”

While the score may be a bit misleading, the stats are more telling. Great Valley (9-3) had 24 rushing yards on 31 attempts, thanks largely to six sacks, while the Knights (12-0) ran for 288 yards on 40 carries.

The Patriots forced their only three-and-out on the Knights’ opening drive, and promptly drove down to the AP three yard line. But the Knights stuffed two straight run attempts on third and fourth down from the one.

Great Valley had another first-and-goal in the fourth quarter, down 33-14, and was denied. Academy Park scored on drives of 98 and 90 yards, respectively, following both turnover on downs.

“They played really good man to man defense against our receivers and got good pressure,” Great Valley quarterback Robert Geiss said. “They stiffened up in the red zone and didn’t want us in the end zone.”

Academy Park had given up 54 total points in its first 11 games, yet the Patriots had their chances. They scored on their second drive when Geiss hit Ryan Hubley for a 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven.

Anthony Liberato recovered a short pooch kick for the Pats on the ensuing kickoff, but they could do nothing despite starting on the AP 38.

Academy Park, meanwhile, stuck to a simple and smart strategy on offense. They put two of their best athletes in the backfield behind a big offensive line, spread the Pats out and ran the wildcat all night. Running back Jermaine Wesley ran for 144 yards, caught three passes for 61 yards and scored three times. Quarterback Jawan Collins ran for 115 yards and two scores and threw for 124 and two more TDs.

“The deciding factor was they wore us down,” Ellis said. “Two things happened: we didn’t score in the red zone and we couldn’t get off the field. They wore us down.”

Great Valley got within seven after its first drive of the second half when Geiss found Andrew Wineinger for a 10-yard TD. Collins hit Kareem Burton on AP’s first play the next drive and tacked on a couple more scores in the fourth quarter to douse Great Valley’s hopes of getting back to the district championship game.

Despite the loss, the six seniors found pride in helping the Patriots go 29-8 the past three years.

“It means the world,” Great Valley senior Zach Tillett said. “All the young guys behind our backs, with just six seniors, everyone stepped up and did a great job to make it this far.”

There is much to look forward to in regards to Great Valley, who returns the majority of its cast, including Geiss, Hubley and running back Mark DeRobertis. That core should help as the Pats are expected to be in the new Class 5A, which will likely include West Chester Rustin, West Chester Henderson and Unionville.

Winning another district title will be a different challenge next year, but Geiss believes the groundwork laid this season is beneficial.

“Everyone got a lot of experience playing varsity football and we know what it’s like,” Geiss said. “Coach Ellis is a great coach and we’re integrated with the system and will continue to learn to execute it.”

Academy Park 39, Great Valley 14

Great Valley 0   7 7  0  — 14

Academy Park 0   21 6 12 — 39

Scoring

AP- Wesley 32 run (Warlo kick)

GV- Hubley 12 pass from Geiss (Sauer kick)

AP- Wesley 10 run (Warlo kick)

AP- Collins 17 run (Warlo kick)

GV- Wineinger 10 pass from Geiss (Sauer kick)

AP- Burton 48 pass from Collins (try failed)

AP-Collins 14 run (try failed)

AP- Wesley 16 pass from Collins (try failed)

TEAM STATISTICS

GV AP

First downs 13 18

Rush – yards 31-24 40-288

Passing yards 175 124

Total yards 199 412

Passing 16-34-1 6-9-0

Punts-Average 4-29.3 2-32.5

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 6-50 9-78

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: GV- DeRobertis 16-54; Tillett 1-3; Geiss 14-(-23). AP- Wesley 20-144, 2 TDs; Collins 15-115, 2 TDs; Covert 1-19; Burton 2-13; Wright 1-(-1); team 1-(-2).

Passing: GV- Geiss 16-34, 175 yards, 2 TDs, INT. AP- Collins 6-9, 124 yards, 2 TDs.

Receiving: GV- Hubley 8-69, TD; Wineinger 4-47, TD; DeRobertis 2-37; Tashjian 1-17; Lane 1-5. AP- Wesley 3-61, TD; Burton 1-48, TD; Stroud 1-12; Cleary 1-3.

Sacks: GV- none. AP- Porte 4, Bologh, Cavage.

Interceptions: GV- none. AP- Wright.