The Saucon Valley offense was huddled up and ready to go.
In the great big book of Saucon Valley football wins, the Panthers 42-27 victory over the Salisbury Falcons can be found in the chapter entitled “Not Pretty”. The Panthers (4-0) did earn the victory, but lost two fumbles and had fifty yards in penalties along the way. That misfortune along with a handful of Falcon big plays allowed Salisbury (1-3) to hang around until the late stages of Friday night’s game. Saucon did get off to a great start scoring on their first two possessions and playing solid defense, but Salisbury courageously worked their way back to give the fans an exciting and competitive contest.
The Falcons won the toss and deferred their option to the 2nd Half allowing the Panthers to take the ball first. Saucon did not disappoint as Ian “Sizzler” Csicsek scampered off left tackle for a 43-yard gain on the very first play from scrimmage. Then, following a 15-yard completion from Dante Mahaffey to Patrick Morrissey, Csicsek took a toss-sweep around left end to put the first Panther points on the scoreboard. Csicsek’s 12-yard touchdown run and Sean Cyphers PAT made it 7-0 a little over a minute into the game.
The Panther offense would roll up 42 points against the Salisbury Falcons.
Following a three-and-out punt on 4th & 28 that the Panthers Justin Kyra returned 25 yards to the Falcon 44-yardline, the Saucon Valley offense was back in business. The Panthers needed only three plays to put the pigskin back into the endzone. This time, Csicsek followed the Hogs 35-yards up the gut for another touchdown. Cyphers again connected on his PAT, and only four minutes after the opening kickoff Saucon Valley led 14-0.
On their next possession, Salisbury responded with a quick-strike “bubble” screen-pass from Jacob Kamp to Tim Buda. Buda quickly secured Kamp’s throw and darted down the Panther sideline for a 44-yard touchdown. With just under five minutes remaining to play in the 1st Quarter, the Panthers led 14-7.
The Panthers take a shot deep to Patrick Morrissey.
Saucon Valley’s Justin Kyra returned the ensuing Falcon kickoff back to midfield providing the Panthers with excellent field position. However, the view from the 50-yardline was short-lived as Curtis Clifford took Mahaffey’s handoff on the very next play. Over left tackle, Clifford hopped, skipped, jumped and sprinted his way to the Falcon endzone for another Panther touchdown. Cyphers made good on the PAT to give Saucon a 21-7 1st Quarter lead.
The Panther offense was already in quick-strike mode, but now so were the Falcons. Following a 3rd & 9 conversion on a scramble by Jacob Kamp, Buda found a crease in the Panther defense and once again flashed his quick feet on “jet sweep” for another 44-yard touchdown. The overworked 1st Quarter scoreboard showed the Panthers leading 21-14.
The Panther defense tries to bottle up the Falcon offense.
After two Panther trips came up empty into the Falcon redzone, Salisbury regained possession at their own 11-yardline. However, the Falcons coughed-up the football and fumbled it away to Justin Kyra and the Panther defense at the Falcon 9-yardline. Two plays later, Csicsek found paydirt for the Panthers. The PAT missed its mark, but Saucon would take a 27-14 advantage into the halftime locker room.
Salisbury opted to receive the 2nd Half kickoff and did not waste any time getting down to business. On 3rd & 8 from their own 32-yardline, Jacob Kamp dropped back to pass, but instead found running room outside the left edge of the Panther defense. Kamp was able to scramble 68-yards down to the Panther 2-yardline. On the very next play, the Falcons pounded it in for the score. Not even two minutes into the 2nd Half, the Falcons closed their deficit to 27-21.
Salisbury quarterback Jacob Kamp played a good game against the Saucon Valley Panthers.
The Falcons were riding a little momentum and created even more when Saucon Valley fumbled away the ensuing kickoff. The upbeat Falcons started their next drive at the Panther 32-yardline. Four plays later, Salisbury quarterback, Jacob Kamp called his own number for a touchdown. Saucon Valley was able to block the Falcon PAT, but with 7:34 left to play in the 3rd Quarter the score was knotted 27-27.
The Panthers came roaring right back with a six-play drive that featured a little Mahaffey and a little Csicsek. Mahaffey alertly scrambled twice for for 38 yards, while Csicsek carried three times for 37 yards on the drive. The Panthers scored from 20 yards out when Csicsek followed his Hogs and steamrolled through the right side of the Falcon defense. Because of a Falcon penalty during the missed extra-point, Saucon Valley opted for a two-point conversion. Csicsek and the Panthers successfully took advantage of the situation and blasted their way into the endzone to take a 35-27 lead into the 4th Quarter.
The Falcons made a couple big plays, but the Panther defense wrapped them up when they most needed to.
The Panther defense forced a punt on the next series that rolled all the way down to the Saucon Valley 10-yardline. Two plays later, however, it was “Sizzler” time. Csicsek took advantage of a great down block by Patrick Morrissy, a great kickout block by Christian “Mongo” Alling, and a great lead block by pulling guard Jared Harka. Altogether, it was a beautifully executed “power” play off right tackle. Csicsek trucked his way 76 yards all the way down to the Salisbury 13-yardline. On the very next play Curtis Clifford and the Hogs pounded the Falcons for a touchdown run up the gut with just over eleven minutes left in the game. Cyphers was good with his PAT and the score would stand as a 42-27 final.
Saucon Valley’s Ian Csicsek rips off another big gain.
Panther Flash Stats!…..
- Ian Csicsek carried 25 times for 289 yards and 4 TD’s
- Curtis Clifford ran 3 times for 63 yards and 2 TD’s
- Dante Mahaffey rushed 9 times for 102 yards, threw for an additional 81 with no INT’s
- Patrick Morrissey caught 2 passes for 35 yards
- Justin Kyra was credited with 7 solo tackles
Saucon Valley’s Ryan Holub (#13) has a little help over the top from Ty Csencsits (#11).
It wasn’t the cleanest or prettiest of Panther football games, but it was good enough for another tally in the win column. At the end of the night, the scoreboard was once again showing another Saucon Valley victory. The Panthers improved to 4-0 while a talented and explosive Salisbury program dropped to 1-3.
After an exciting game, it was a 42-27 final score
Up Next: The undefeated Panthers will return to Montford E. Illick stadium to welcome the Northern Lehigh Bulldogs (3-1). Northern Lehigh owns victories over Wilson, Catasauqua and Pen Argyl. Their only loss is a 28-6 defeat to the much improved Bangor Slaters (3-1). Last season, the Panthers beat the Bulldogs handily.
Friday’s kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. If you are in attendance, be sure to wear Blue or Gold to help show support in the battle against pediatric cancer. Saucon Valley student MiniTHON members will be accepting donations for this special cause.
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
After building a 15-0 lead against his Salisbury opponent, Saucon’s Jake Jones pinned for his win during Salisbury’s “Grapple on the Gridiron” halftime show.
