PENNCREST ENDS RIDLEY STREAK WITH 26-19 WIN
By John S. Condakes
MIDDLETOWN, PA-The upstart Penncrest Lions broke the Ridley Raiders’ 26 game winning streak and handed them their first loss in over two and half years Friday night 26-19. The win put the Lions in a tie for first place in the Central League with the Raiders as both squads now have identical 6-1 records.
“That was one of the biggest wins we’ve ever had,” said Penncrest coach Paul Graham whose team rallied in the fourth quarter for the third time this season. “Ridley’s defense is great but we were able to break a few big ones and that really helped us. We’re feeling pretty good right now.”
Penncrest’s comeback was sparked by a clutch play from its defense. With the Lions trailing 19-13, senior Tyriq Kershaw intercepted a Colin Masterson pass to give Penncrest possession. On the ensuing drive, senior quarterback Matt Atkinson hit classmate Rickey Bailey with a 78-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Bailey jumped to make the catch over a Ridley defender and broke two tackles to get across the goal line. The extra point put the Lions up 20-19 with 7:54 left on the clock.
“I knew I had to go up and get the ball,” Bailey said. “Matt took a big hit on the play and when I came down my only thought was getting into the end zone.”
Penncrest struck first in the contest with a nine-yard touchdown run by Kershaw in the first quarter to go up 6-0 but Ridley came surging back in the second with 13 points of its own. Chris Myers scored on a 25-yard run and Troy Foster hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass to put the visitors up 13-6 at the half.
Ridley didn’t let up in the third quarter as Pat Mills returned a punt 69 yards for another score leaving the Raiders in command with a 19-6 lead. Penncrest answered with a two-yard touchdown run by Jerry Boyer before the quarter ended to make it 19-13. After Bailey’s touchdown, Boyer broke for a 50-yard touchdown run to cap the scoring at 26-19 in favor of the home team.
“You can’t take anything away from Penncrest,” said Ridley coach John Waller. “We had them down 19-6 and they never gave up. That was the case [in their games] against Haverford and
“We beat them for the first time and it feels good. We’ve never had a more satisfying win,” added Atkinson. “I keep saying that every week and we keep getting better wins.”
“This team just has some magic to it,” Graham said. “We’re not trying to figure it out, just keep it going.”
