| BROOKVILLE WINS D9 LEAGUE TITLE; ROUTE 36 TROPHY |
| OCT. 18 WEEK EIGHT - Brookville 28, Punxsutawney 21 |
| By Paul Pysh
BROOKVILLE - In a game of big plays, sustained drives, and excellent coaching, the Brookville Blue Raiders captured their first-ever D9 League Championship with an exciting and well-played 28-21 victory over the rival Punxsutawney at "The Reservation" in Brookville last night. In one of the most up and down season either team has faced in years, Brookville and Punxsutawney put on a tug-o-war that epitomized the term rivalry. It was punch, counter-punch, with neither team willing to throw in the towel. And in the end, it was a sophomore, Nick Heschke, who saved the game for the Raiders by cutting in front of an open receiver and intercepting a Joe Martin pass at midfield with just under a minute to play. It was one of several outstanding plays by the Raider defensive backfield which was under attack by Martin all night long. Punxsutawney (5-3) started the scoring with a 9 play, 76 yard drive capped off by a 21 yard touchdown pass from Martin to Kyle Barilar. Jay Neal's extra point attempt was good and the Chucks led 7-0 with 4:40 left in the 1st quarter. Brookville (5-3) tied the game with 0:30 left in the first quarter when Bill Morrison took it in from the 1 yard line to complete a 9 play, 69 yard drive. The touchdown was set up by a 25 yard scramble to the 2 yard line by Raider quarterback Cole Cook. Brandon Gunning booted the extra point and the game was tied, 7-7. In the 2nd quarter, The chucks moved the ball to the Raider 5 yard line. But after a Nick Heschke sack of martin and then a sack of Joe Martin by Raiders Keith Ishman and Joe Motter, Punxy faced a 4th down and 32 from the Raider 37. Martin dropped back to pass, avoided more pressure, and found Barilar in the zone to complete an impressive and improbable 15 play, 89 yard drive. Neal put the extra point through the uprights and the score was Punxy 14, Brookville 7 with 4:07 to play in the half. But the Raiders were determined to strike back. After a nice kick off return of 26 yards by Matt Mohney, the Raiders scored with 0:23.8 left in the half when Cole Cook rolled to his right, stopped, looked, and finally found Corey Santoriello floating across the back of the end zone. gunning added the extra point and the two teams went into the locker room at halftime tied 14-14. Punxsutawney opened the 3rd quarter with a 54 yard drive that stalled on downs at the Brookville 24 yard line. On the very next play, Raider running back Matt Gilbert rumbled over the right side for 70 yards to the Punxy 6. Two plays later, Cook ran up the middle for a 5 yard touchdown and the first Raider lead of the game. Gunning made the score 21-14 Raiders with 7:24 remaining in the 3rd quarter. After the teams traded punts, and the Gunning missed a 23 yard field goal for the Raiders, the Chucks took over on their own 20 yard line and put on a display of running and passing that ended with a 4 yard Joe martin touchdown run on 4th down and 4. Martin rolled back deep and to his right, but his receivers were well covered. Martin tucked the ball under his arm and headed straight for the end zone. he used his 6' 1" frame to dive the final 3 yards, barely getting the ball to cross the plane of the goal line. It was an impressive display of awareness and athleticism by the 4-year letterman. Neal tied the score with the extra point at 21-21 with 9:39 to go in the 4th quarter. The drive covered 80 yards in 12 plays. Ryan Bish kicked off for the Chucks and hit a squibber down the right side. Sophomore Josh Keihl cleanly fielded the bouncing, rolling ball and returned it 5 yards to the Raider 37. Four plays later, Corey Santoriello ran a reverse around the right side. Santoriello found nothing but green for 30 yards, put an outstanding move on the defender near the 15 yard line, then cut inside to complete the 48 yard touchdown run. Gunning split the uprights and the Raiders led 28-21 with 7:46 to go in the 4th quarter. It was a 4 play, 63 yard drive. The Chucks and Raiders failed to move the ball on their next possessions. Then, Raider punter Brent Puller stood at his own 43 yard line and kicked a line-drive punt to the left of the return man, Dustin Guidash. Guidash could not get over to field the ball, which rolled toward the Punxy goal line, settling at the six. The Raider coaching staff then called for a relentless blitzing attack of Joe Martin, often leaving defenders alone, 1 on 2, versus the Punxy receivers. The ideas was to get to Martin before he could get the pass away. And it worked. Martin was pressured, hurried, hit and sacked. The Chucks did manage to get a first down out to the 19 yard line, but Martin was sacked. then, on 2nd and 13, martin, again under intense pressure, fired a pass down the middle to Andy Snyder, but Heschke was reading Martin's eyes the whole way and intercepted the pass and returned it to the Chuck 30 with 0:58.6 remaining on the clock. Two kneel-downs later by Cook and the Raiders won their firs-ever D9 League Title, The Route 36 Traveling Trophy and a home game in the first round of the District 9 Class AA Playoffs. Statistically, the game was nearly as close as the score. Punxy finished with 371 total yards to Brookville's 356. Joe Martin completed 17 of 27 passes for 316 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Kyle Barilar had 8 receptions for 171 yards and 2 touchdowns. For the Raiders, Matt Gilbert carried 20 times for 131 yards. Corey Santoriello caught a touchdown pass and ran for another. Cole cook and Bill Morrison ran for touchdowns of 5 yards and 1 yard respectively. It sounds like a cliché, but it really and truly was the kind of game where it was a shame one team had to lose. Players of the game, voted on by all personnel in the press box, were quarterback Joe Martin and Receiver Kyle Barilar for Punxsutawney. Brookville's players of the game were defensive back/punter/wide receiver Brent Puller, running back Matt Gilbert, and outside linebacker Keith Ishman. Brookville Head coach Chris Dworek visited the post-game celebration at Plyer's Pizza and Family Restaurant carrying the Route 36 Trophy. He received a standing ovation from the patrons. After making his rounds to thank the fans, Dworek said, "Enjoy the moment everybody, I'm going home to celebrate with my wife and kids." He took the trophy home with him. Stats Courtesy of the DuBois Courier Express BROOKVILLE 28, PUNXSUTAWNEY 21 |