Ian Csicsek and the Panthers jump all over the competition.
Defend, Score, Repeat…..
On Friday night against the Northern Lehigh Bulldogs, Saucon Valley played great defense, scored early and often, and then repeated the process along the way to building a 42-0 halftime lead. At the end of a fantastic night for high school football, the Panthers celebrated a dominating 42-14, mercy-rule victory. The Saucon Valley Panthers (5-0) now, at the midpoint of the 2018 season, are the only unbeaten team remaining in the Colonial League.
After winning the coin-toss and deferring their option until the 2nd half, the Panther defense went right to work forcing the Bulldogs to go 3-&-out. Following the punt, Saucon Valley gained possession at the Bulldog 42-yardline. Six plays later, Curtis Clifford followed “Mongo” and the Hogs for a 17-yard touchdown run right up the gut. Sean Cyphers’ PAT was good and four minutes into the game Saucon Valley led 7-0.
The Panther defense came up big on Friday night against the Bulldogs.
The Panther defense forced another 3-&-out punt and the offense regained possession at the Bulldog 47-yardline. Highlighted by Dante Mahaffey’s 30-yard keep on an option play down to the Bulldog 9-yardline, the Panthers manufactured another quick scoring drive. Ian Csicsek blasted his way into the Northern Lehigh end zone for another Panther touchdown. Cyphers did his thing and with 4:43 left in the 1st Quarter, Saucon extended their lead to 14-0.
Once again a smothering Saucon Valley defense forced Northern Lehigh to go 3-&-out. The Panther offense quickly punched the clock and went back to work at their own 40-yardline. Set up by a 33-yard dash up the middle by Ian Csicsek, Saucon manufactured an 11-play drive that ended with another score. On the second play of the 2nd Quarter, Csicsek and the Panthers pounded the ball into the Bulldog endzone behind the left side of the Saucon Valley offensive line for a 1-yard TD run. The PAT missed the target, but the Panthers were in command 20-0 with 11:09 left in the 1st Half.
Saucon Valley’s Ian Csicsek getting an escort into the end-zone.
On the very first play from scrimmage after a decent kickoff return by Northern Lehigh out to their own 37-yardline, Ian Csicsek, from his outside linebacker position, undercut and picked-off an “out-route” by a Bulldog tight end. Csicsek scampered all the way down to the 5-yardline putting the Panther offense immediately back in business. Two plays later, with Christian “Mongo” Alling and Kelvin Gallard leading the way, Csicsek took “toss-right” two yards to the house. Saucon opted for a two-point conversion and Csicsek, once again, found the end zone off the right side of the Panther line. With 9:58 showing on the scoreboard, Saucon Valley was cruising with a 28-0 lead.
On their following possession, the Northern Lehigh offense got a little traction and finally managed to pick up a couple of 1st downs. The Bulldogs drove down to the Panther 34-yardline but were forced to turn the ball over on downs. Saucon Valley took over possession and marched back the other way to the tune of a 13-play scoring drive that was capped with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Dante Mahaffey to Ryan Holub. Cyphers’ PAT was good and, with just under one minute remaining in the 1st Half, the mercy-rule went into effect with the Panthers leading 35-0.
Cyphers kick is up and good.
Northern Lehigh returned the ensuing kickoff out to their 44-yardline and, with little time on the clock, took a shot at the end zone. However, the Panthers Justin Kyra intercepted the pass at his 30-yardline. Kyra’s return to the 40-yardline was backed up to the 23-yardline due to an illegal block. The Panther field position did not matter. On the very next play Saucon Valley took a shot of their own. With three receivers out wide to the left and Patrick Morrissey the only eligible receiver on the right at his tight end position, Saucon would take advantage of a blown coverage and, once again, found the end zone. Mahaffey, seeing that the Bulldogs overplayed their hand to the three-receiver side decided to shift his attention to Morrissey who was racing downfield all alone down the Panther sideline. With about 20 seconds remaining in the 1st Half, Mahaffey connected with Morrissey in full stride at midfield. Morrissey raced into the end zone with a couple of Bulldogs nipping at his heels. Cyphers hit his extra-point and Saucon Valley was feeling real good with a 42-0 halftime advantage.
Mahaffey hits Morrissey in stride for a big score just before halftime against Northern Lehigh.
With the mercy-rule clock running and the Panther reserves taking the field to start the 2nd Half, Northern Lehigh managed a couple of scores. But, of course, it was too little too late for the Bulldogs. With Friday night’s victory, combined with Palisades 40-15 loss to Southern Lehigh, Saucon is the last remaining unbeaten team in the Colonial League.
Panther Flash Stats!…..
- Ian Csicsek carried 15 times for 104 yards and 3 TD’s.
- Dante Mahaffey threw for 107 yards and 2 TD’s.
- Mahaffey ran 4 times for 54 yards.
- Curtis Clifford ran 4 times for 31 yards and a TD.
- Ryan Holub 3 catches for 22 yards and a TD.
- Patrick Morrissey caught 1 pass for 77 yards and a TD.
- Stone Butler had 6 carries for 29 yards.
- Curtis Clifford tallied 4.5 tackles with 1 tackle for a loss.
- Ian Csicsek and Justin Kyra each had an interception for the Panthers.
Freshman Dante Mahaffey (#12) looking over the Bulldog defense as David Osman (#60) gets ready to roll..
Up Next: The undefeated Panthers (5-0) will travel to Bangor Memorial Stadium on Friday night to do battle with the much improved Bangor Slaters (3-2). The Slaters own victories over Catasauqua, Northern Lehigh and Southern Lehigh. Bangor lost to Notre Dame 22-8 during Week 2 and Northwestern Lehigh 29-21 on Friday. This is going to be a slugfest!
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
Panther Pride!
