Panthers Hammer Green Knights 57-14 (Sponsored by Cheyenne Reiman, Realtor)

On Friday night, the Saucon Valley Panthers followed their season opening mercy-rule win against the Bangor Slaters with another mercy-rule victory over the Pen Argyl Green Knights. In a game that featured an arsenal of big plays, the Panthers cruised to a 57-14 win. Saucon Valley stays on track to try and capture a fourth consecutive Colonial League title.

Both teams were red-hot out of the gates. Pen Argyl struck first on the second play of the game as Logan Sterner took “toss sweep” around his right end and raced 77-yards for a Panther wake-up call touchdown. Only 30 seconds later, on the Panthers second offensive play, Zach “Lightning” Petiet answered right back with a touchdown on “toss sweep left” from 46 yards out. Steven Rose ran the PAT in for two points after a muffed snap. Only 89 seconds into the game it appeared as if a shoot-out was in the making.

Pen Argyl looked dangerous as they forged a nine-play drive on their next possession and were methodically moving the ball against the Panthers. However, following a holding penalty and facing a 2nd & 23 from their own 45 yard line “lightning” would strike at the Green Knights. Pen Argyl quarterback, Anderson Dear, with outside linebacker Patrick Morrissey screaming off the edge and in his face on a blitz, put a little too much muscle on a pass that missed high and was intercepted by Zach Petiet. Escorted by an armada of teammates parading down the Pen Argyl sideline, Petiet cruised for a 68-yard pick-six. With just under six minutes remaining in the 1st quarter, Petiet’s interception and Erik Sundlof’s PAT gave the Panthers a 15-7 lead.

Pen Argyl then coughed-up the ball to the Panthers on their next possession at their own 33 yard line after only two plays. Saucon Valley needed only two plays of their own to punch the ball into the end zone. From a “shotgun-spread” look on 2nd & 2, Petiet took a quick pitch around left end to the wide side of the field and beat the Green Knight defense across the goal-line for a 26-yard TD. The Panthers closed out the 1st quarter with a 22-7 lead.

The two teams exchanged punts with the Green Knights regaining possession at the Panther 26 yard line. After nine plays Pen Argyl’s Logan Sterner found room around right end on a stretch play for a 1-yard touchdown. The PAT was good and with 4:14 left in the 1st half Saucon Valley’s lead shrunk to 22-14.

The Panthers went to work. After a 10-yard blast off tackle by Petiet, Alstan Wolfe, from the shotgun, sped 55 yards around right end for a touchdown. Christian “Mongo” Alling helped Wolfe from his running back position with a bone-crunching block, but Wolfe helped himself with an ankle-breaking juke that cleared his way to the end zone. Sundlof added the PAT for a 29-14 lead with 3:37 to go in the half.

The Panthers were not finished. The defense stiffened on the next series forcing a Green Knight three-and-out. After the punt, Saucon took over midfield. Five plays and a holding penalty later, the Panthers faced 2nd and 24 from the Green Knight 34 yard line with about 20 seconds left in the first half. From “gun trips right” Wolfe dropped back to pass after flashing a quick handoff fake to Petiet up the middle. Wolfe decided to get super-freaky and broke contain to his left around the Green Knight defensive end. Shrugging off three different Green Knight tackles, Wolfe was able to split a couple defenders at the goal line and dove into the end zone for a score. It was another highlight clip for Wolfe. After Sundlof’s PAT it was a 36-14 halftime lead for the Panther fanatics.

The Panthers were forced to punt on their opening possession of the second-half, but Ian Csicsek’s acrobatic interception regained the ball for the Panthers at the Green Knight 35 yard line. On the very next play, Petiet went the distance on another “toss-sweep” for a score. Four minutes into the third quarter the Panthers improved to a 43-14 advantage.

On their next series, Pen Argyl was desperate and turned the ball back over to Saucon Valley after failing to convert on fourth down from their own 40 yard line. The Panthers marched to the Green Knight fourteen yard line where “Lighting” would strike once again. Zach Petiet converted yet another “toss sweep” for his fifth and final touchdown of the night. Sundlof’s kick was good and the thirty-five point margin mercy-rule went into effect with the scoreboard favoring the Panthers 50-14.

To close out the game, reserve fullback, Kelvin Gallard busted a quick-hitter up the gut for a 59-yard scoring scamper and Anthony Kittelstad added the extra point to make it a 57-14 final. It was another dominant performance by the Saucon Valley Panthers.

Next week, the Panthers (2-0) travel to Palmerton (1-1). The Blue Bombers looked good in their opener with a 42-7 victory of the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers. Week #2, however, Southern Lehigh crushed Palmerton 44-0. Nonetheless, the Panthers will look forward to taking advantage of their next challenge.

Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!

Photos from the game by Chris Christian