WRITTEN BY RYAN TATTERSALL
What a game this was! Wallenpaupack put on a great second half performance against Abington Heights on Friday September. The Buckhorns came into the game 2-2 after a bad loss to Delaware Valley 40-14, looked to get over the horrible loss with a win at home against the Abington Heights Comets. AH on the other hand was on a roll, posting a 3-1 record coming into the game with a statement, 34-14 win over Western Wayne the previous week. Another tough foe was in the way of victory for Paupack.
The game started hot for the Comets. They got the ball to start the game. They had a five-minute offensive drive that resulted in an early 7-0 lead. Paupack returned the favor. They also made their first trip into Comet territory and capped it off with a red zone touchdown run from Drew Kiesendahl to tie the game. The game looked like it was going to be a back-and-forth battle between the Buckhorns and the Comets. Once again Abington got the ball and once again got into Buckhorn territory. The finishing touch for their drive was a 31-yard TD run from AH running back Anthony Curra, and the Comets took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
Wallenpaupack once again got off the ball quick. They got right to midfield with a few nice runs from Drew Kiesendahl and running back Dylan Podrazill. They then got down to the 27 off a big catch and run from Aiden Pierson. A few miscues then occurred for Paupack. They got called for holding on third down which set up third and 13 and then another penalty set them back, causing a foourth and 18. They tried to kick a 52-yard field goal with their really efficient kicker Gannon Decker, but it was no good.
With three minutes left in the first half, AH got the ball on the 20. Like every drive they had, they made it across midfield. Unfortunately, when Mark Nilsen of Wallenpaupack intercepted a pass, it was called back for defensive holding. It led to a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone from Shawn Theodore to Anthony Severs which put the Comets up 21-7 with 2:49 left of the second quarter. The Buckhorns tried to get something going in the next drive. Tight End Jordan Santiago caught a pass from Kiesendahl at the 50. All plans for them in that drive were foiled by an interception from Abington Heights with 1:01 left. The Buckhorns were given another chance to score before half. They forced a three and out with 0:35. But Kiesnedahl was picked off again leaving the score to 21-7 at halftime.
But Coach Watson and his crew weren’t finished yet. They came out flying to begin the third quarter. They once again got down to midfield. Drew Kiesendahl then showed his skills with a long throw on the run to Mark Nilsen on the 12-yard line. He then threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Greene. To get back in the game. But that wasn’t the only trick Paupack had up their sleeve. Paupack kicker Gannon Decker onside kicked ball, and the ball was recovered by Aiden Greene. They tried to move the ball, but AH stuffed them on fourth and inches. Coach Watson was going for it. Then false start was called on Paupack, sending out the punt unit instead.
The Buckhorn defense forced another three-and-out. Then the offense was granted great field position off a blocked punt from Wallenpaupack’s CJ Doty. It led to a game tying touchdown from running back Dylan Podrazill. The third quarter just kept getting better for the Buckhorns as Aiden Greene literally took the ball out of the Abington receiver’s hands. It set up for another touchdown for Dylan Podrazill and the lead for Wallenpaupack 28-21. The stadium was electric. The Paupack student section was electric, the sideline was electric. Everyone was on their feet. But there was still plenty of time, and AH wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. The third quarter came to an end and onto the fourth quarter we went.
Abington had the ball. They moved the ball well and efficiently, and with the help of penalties called against Paupack, the Comets tied the game at 28. Wallenpaupack needed to finish strong, but again more penalties get called against the Buckhorn offense. A holding and a false start set them back to thiurd and 26 at their own 30. Drew Kiesendahl was looking for the first. He threw it to the middle of the field, intended for Jake Holbert, but it went over Holbert’s head into the waiting arms of an Abington defender. The icing on the cake was another touchdown for the Comets. With three minutes left to go, the score was 35-28 AH.
Drew Kiesendahl and the Buckhorns needed an answer. A few nice plays from the Buckhorn offense got them to midfield, but they couldn’t sustain the drive. Fourth down came – Last chance for the Buckhorns. Kiesendahl looked to pass, was in trouble, threw the ball downfield. Jake Holbert was the intended target. But the ball was incomplete, and there looked to be some pulling on Holbert’s jersey from the Comet defender. But there was no call on the field. The game was over. The Buckhorns lost a hard-fought battle against a tough team in Abington Heights.
Here are a few key players of the game. Aiden Greene struggled in the first half. He got called for holding which led to an AH TD. On the PAT after the TD, he roughed the kicker. But then second half came, and he had a touchdown, an onside kick recovery, and a literal takeaway. Dylan Podrazill scored two touchdowns in this game. He now has seven on the season. This team can play hard. Their next game is home on Friday night September 29 against Scranton Prep. A very tough foe the Buckhorns, but they will battle till the last second.
