REDBANK VALLEY 13, KEYSTONE 12

Aug. 31, 2007

Information for this story is courtesy of the Oil City Derrick

KNOX – Curtis Lee’s interception of back-up quarterback Dan Reed’s last-second pass at the 3-yard sealed a 13-12 win for Redbank Valley over Keystone in a season-opening KSAC showdown Friday night at Keystone.

The Panthers (0-1) had driven from their own 29 to the Redbank Valley 17 in the final 1:37 thanks to the play of Reed, who took over early in the drive from starter Ben Black who was injured on the first play of the drive. Reed, only a sophomore, was 5-for-7 on the drive while leading Keystone deep into Bulldogs territory with less than 20 seconds to play. But Reed’s first pass from the 17 was knocked down by Redbank’s Tony Bish, and his final heave was picked off by Lee.

“Our kids gutted it out,” Redbank Valley head coach Ed Wasilowski told the Oil City Derrick’s Shawn Fox. “We’re young, and to come up here against a veteran team like that and to steal one on their home field … that just was big. It was a good one.”

Redbank Valley was able to survive two long fourth quarter drives by Keystone after taking a 13-6 lead into the final frame.

Keystone cut the lead to 13-12 with a 13-play, 96-yard drive that ended on a 1-yard run by Black with 6:07 left to play.

But with kicker Tyler Jack injured, holder Mike Switzer, a former quarterback, tried to throw a 2-point conversion pass to give Keystone the lead. But the pass fell short leaving the Panthers trailing by one.

“We were going for two all the way because our kicker is hurt,” Nellis told the Derrick. “People criticize calls like that, and there are things they don’t know. It could have been a different play call. We were either going to fake it or line up and go for two. Either way, they probably knew we were going for two. Our goal there was to get Switzer, our holder, on the perimeter. I’ll take our chance with the ball in his hands.”

Keystone led 6-0 halfway through the first quarter thanks to a 66-yard touchdown pass from Black to Switzer, with Switzer covering the final 50 yards on his own. But Shiloh Buchleitner blocked Jack’s extra point, which turned out to be a key play in the game.

Alex Bladel, last year’s D9Sports.com District 9 Rookie of the Year, tied the game with a 56-yard touchdown run with 3:50 left in the first quarter, and Jake Smith’s extra point put the Bulldogs ahead for good at 7-6.

Redbank made it 13-6 with 5:10 left in the first half on a 1-yard scoring run by Smith, the quarterback.  

Bladel led the Bulldogs with 16 carries for 117 yards and the touchdown, while Smith was 7 of 14 passing for 38 yards and ran 16 times for 71 yards and a score.

Black paced Keystone going 11 of 24 passing for 219 yards and a touchdowns while also running for the score. Kyle Rhoads had six catches for 80 yards, while Switzer had two for 78 and a touchdown. Derek Swartfager chipped in with five catches for 72 yards while running eight times for 18 yards. 

NOTES – Redbank valley has won 10 of 11 from Keystone including three times in the past year. The Bulldogs knocked off the Panthers 13-0 in last season’s season opener and then beat them 34-0 in the opening round of the District 9 Class A playoffs … Keystone has no time to feel sorry for itself. The Panthers host rival Clarion at 7 p.m. Saturday in another key early-season KSAC clash. Redbank Valley hosts Union at 7 p.m. Friday.

REDBANK VALLEY 13, KEYSTONE 12

Score by Quarters

Redbank 7 6 0 0 – 13

Keystone 6 0 0 6 – 12

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

K – Mike Switzer 66 pass from Ben Black (kick blocked), 6:32

R – Alex Bladel 56 run (Doug Bish kick), 3:50

Second Quarter

R – Jake Smith 1 run (kick failed), 5:10

Fourth Quarter

K – Black 1 run (pass failed), 6:07

 RUSHING – Redbank Valley: Alex Bladel 16-117, Jake Smith 16-71, Nash Rupp 1-2, Jerrett Magagnotti 1-(-4), Team 2-(-3). Keystone: Derek Swartfager 8-18, Mike Switzer 2-15, Corey Lee 2-6, Drew Myers 1-0, Ben Black 8-(-2), Mike “Red” Switzer 2-(-7), Team 1-(-15).

PASSING – Redbank Valley: Smith 7-for-14, 38 yards. Keystone: Black 11-for-24, 219 yards, 1 touchdown; Dan Reed 5-for-11, 49 yards, 1 interception.

RECEIVING – Redbank Valley: Kasey Haines 2-16, Rupp 2-15, Bladel 2-2, Craig Hibell 1-5. Keystone: Kyle Rhoads 6-80, Derek Swartfager 5-72, Mike Switzer 2-78, Ben Marchand 2-29, Brett Zuck 1-9.

INTERCEPTIONS – Redbank Valley: Curtis Lee

FUMBLE RECOVERY – Keystone: Corey Lee