After West Chester East’s change of heart, Pottsgrove blocks comeback attempt

by gqlshare

WEST GOSHEN >> In a one-point game, instants from throughout will linger long after the final buzzer.

For those on the Pottsgrove side, DeVon Grinnage stepping in front of a third-quarter pass will be at the top of many fond memories from Friday night.

On the West Chester East side, a decision to or not to go for two late in the game will likely be a tough one to wrestle with.

After a 48-minute defensive slugfest, Pottsgrove left Harold Zimmerman Field a 13-12 winner over the Vikings.

“I thought it was a great high school football game between two good teams,” Pottsgrove coach Billy Hawthorne said. “Everything had to be earned in the game. It was two good defenses that went head to head, and whoever made less mistakes and made the play at the timely time, won the game.”

Pottsgrove's Mikhi Dargan. (Nate Heckenberger - For MediaNews Group) — Pottsgrove’s Mikhi Dargan. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

For a little over three quarters, the Falcons (3-1) seemed relatively in control, though the Vikings (2-2) kept things close with stellar defensive play.

Down 13-0, East finally got on the board on a one-yard touchdown by Fenton Kulp with eight minutes, 53 seconds left. The point after attempt was blocked.

The Vikings got a stop on the next possession and put together their best drive of the night, going 75 yards in seven plays, capped by a seven-yard TD run by Nate DeRosa.

West Chester East's Fenton Kulp. (Nate Heckenberger - For MediaNews Group) — West Chester East’s Fenton Kulp. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Initially East coach Scott Stephen raised two fingers to go for the win, but after Pottsgrove called a timeout before the play, the kicking team came out on the field.

Dante Bibbs Jr. blocked the kick and the Falcons ran the final two minutes, 25 seconds of the clock off.

“I had a feeling in my heart that we was gonna block it again,” Bibbs Jr. said. “Their kicker wasn’t getting the ball off too high, so we got long wingspan, and we just gotta put our hands up. That’s what we did, and we blocked the kick once again.”

Of East’s 25 running plays, only six went for three yards or more. The two-point attempt would’ve been from the three-yard line, but the millions of possibilities in that moment made for a very difficult decision.

“I think there’s a lot that goes into it,” Stephen said. “I think, if you get the two point conversion, it’s great. If you don’t, then there’s ‘why don’t we go for one?’ I think when you look at the situations, there was 2:25 on the clock. They had one time out. We had all three. Obviously, you gotta make a snap decision. I made it. You gotta live with it.”

West Chester East's Landon Goodwin strips Pottsgrove's Isaiah Rivera. (Nate Heckenberger - For MediaNews Group) — West Chester East’s Landon Goodwin strips Pottsgrove’s Isaiah Rivera. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

Pottsgrove dominated the first half from a yardage perspective, out-gaining East 170-29. Two fumbles, including one in the red zone, halted much of the Falcons progress, but they were able to get points on the board 74 seconds before halftime on a two-yard plunge by Mike Dargan.

On East’s first play of the third quarter, Nate DeRosa’s pass was picked off by Grinnage and taken back for a 36-yard pick six, giving Pottsgrove a 13-0 lead.

“One thousand percent,” Hawthorne said. “The defense deserved to get that win. They put us in a position where we could win.”

Pottsgrove's defense wraps up West Chester East's Fenton Kulp. (Nate Heckenberger - For MediaNews Group) — Pottsgrove’s defense wraps up West Chester East’s Fenton Kulp. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)

The Vikings didn’t get their second first down until midway through the third, but DeRosa and Chase Szollose found some chemistry, connecting 10 times for 157 yards, setting up both scores.

Pottsgrove held Kulp, the Ches-Mont League’s leading rusher coming in, to just 22 yards on 13 carries.

“We we definitely take a lot of pride in that,” Bibbs Jr. said. “We love that for each other. We push each other every day at practice to make each other better and it showed. This was a great game.”

East’s defense has only allowed 27 points in four games this season, but sitting at .500 with a trip to Coatesville next week does not allow for many moral victories.

“When you look at the dynamics of the first half, to only be down by six points is a credit to them and all the guys on defense,” Stephen said. “Getting 2 turnovers that first half and making key stops in the fourth allowed us to close the two-score gap. We’re playing team football, assignment football. Guys are getting to the ball and I think they’re really starting to create an identity.”