With great success, the Panthers unveiled a new defensive scheme in the preseason scrimmage against Fleetwood on Saturday.
Phil Sams’ Saucon Valley football squad had their way with the Fleetwood Tigers in Saturday’s first and only preseason scrimmage. Fleetwood is a 5A team compared to Saucon at 4A, but the Tigers are 4-16 their last two seasons in the Berks County Football League. Even though Saucon Valley was breaking in a new set of Hogs, a new quarterback and a new defensive scheme, it was crystal clear that the Panthers were superior to the Tigers on this day.
The scrimmage started with each varsity squad running ten plays each. The Panthers had possession first and wasted little time moving the ball as they started from their own 20 yardline. Zach “Lightning” Petiet was featured on three of the first four plays and answered with a total of 47 yards including a 35-yard burst up the middle. Alstan Wolfe from the quarterback position looked comfortable and completed 2 of 3 passes for 23 yards on the drive; an 8-yard hitch to Ryan Holub and a 15-yard out to Steven Rose. Wolfe’s lone incompletion of the series was on target, but dropped. Ian Csicsek took Saucon the remaining 16 yards on three consecutive carries into the endzone to cap a 9 play, 80 yard drive.
Zach Petiet finding a huge hole through the Fleetwood defense.
Defensively, the Panthers looked solid with their new “forty-front” scheme. On their first seven offensive plays, Fleetwood, running a traditional Wing-T offense managed only five positive yards. On play #8 the Tigers did hit a sweep for about 8 yards and followed that with a quick trap up the middle on play #9. The fullback trap looked to surprise the Panthers for a 20-yard gain. The Tigers would try to run the trap again, but Saucon Valley made the adjustment to stop it. The Panthers closed out the series with a sack on play #10.
The Tigers struggled to find running room against the quick Panther defense.
The varsity squads then ran a 20 minute period of play with a running clock. Fleetwood took the ball first starting from their own 20 yardline. On the third play from scrimmage, the tough Panther defense caused the Tigers to fumble allowing Saucon Valley’s Jared Harka to recover it at the 25 yardline. The Panthers had a short field to go along with possession of the football.
With a new series, Saucon’s Wolfe rolled left and hit Steven Rose for a 16-yard catch and run down to the 9 yardline. Petiet then carried off tackle for seven yards which set up Christian “Mongo” Alling’s 2-yard plunge up the middle for a touchdown.
A tough Saucon defense will be the Panthers offense best friend.
After moving the ball about 18 yards in six plays, the Tigers were forced to punt. Saucon took over and quickly gave it right back after only two plays with an interception that Alstan Wolfe surely wishes he had back. Fleetwood however, was only good for five plays before punting it back to the Panthers.
Zach Petiet powers for positive yardage against the Fleetwood Tigers.
The Panthers went right to work and forged a 13 play drive for a touchdown. Senior Zach Petiet led the way carrying six times for about 33 yards. Junior Ian Csicsek chipped in with three carries for about 23 yards. But, it was Alstan Wolfe adding to his highlight film with two incredible scrambles for about 35 yards that energized the hometown crowd. Wolfe displayed his vision, footwork and speed before finishing with power. The Panthers ultimately scored on 1st & Goal from the two yardline. The Panthers went full-house with double-tightends and punched the ball in for their final score.
Even though the 2017 Saucon Valley Panthers are a bit refurbished, they look primed to make a run at a fourth consecutive Colonial League title.
Check out some of the scenes from Saturday morning’s scrimmage with the Fleetwood Tigers!
Like Petiet, Ian Csicsek found room to run against the Fleetwood defense.
It may be a new quarterback and a new offensive line but it looked like the same old Saucon Valley Panthers.
Alstan Wolfe under center and behind his 2017 Hogs.
Most of the time it was the Panthers who won the scrums against the Tigers.
The Panthers getting a push in the trenches against the Fleetwood Tigers.
Patrick Morrissey stuffs the bootleg and brings the pressure against the Tigers.
Curtis Clifford with a pretty cool tackle.
Senior Chris Smith makes a nice, strong run after his catch.
The Panthers ran with power all morning long.
Coach Sams and Coach Phillips making adjustments during a timeout.
The Panthers found plenty of room to run.
Junior, Ian Csicsek finds another hole in the Tiger defense.
Outside linebacker Angelo Mahaffey and the rest of the Panther defense were never too far away from making a big play.
Coach Sams and Coach Muller comparing notes after the preseason scrimmage against Fleetwood.
It was a clean contest, played the right way.
UP NEXT:
- Colonial League season opener at Home v. Bangor on Friday, August 25 (7 p.m.)
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
