SHARON HILL -- In the perfect season, Aaron Mackrey still is waiting for the perfect game.
He didn't see it through Penn Wood's first six victories, including three in the Del Val Conference.
He didn't see it yesterday, when the Patriots subdued host Academy
Park, 26-7, at Knight Park.
He
may see it against Unionville. He'd better see something close to it
against Glen Mills -- if the Pats are to win a championship.
He may never see it at all.
He did, though, see something close in final 24 minutes against the 1-3, 3-5 Knights.
""We
knew it was time for all of us to step it up,'' Mackrey said, after
scoring three TDs to keep Penn Wood spotless at 7-0 overall, 4-0 in the
league. ""So we had a talk at halftime. We all had to step up. All of
us.''
The Patriots, though clearly superior, settled for a 12-7
halftime edge, then pounded the Knights in the second half with alert
defense and efficient offense en route to touchdown-per-quarter
precision.
Mackrey rushed for 116 yards and scored on TD runs of
three, 15 and five yards as the Patriots bolstered their status as Del
Val contenders. Just ask Academy
Park coach Sal Oropollo.
""Glen Mills
and Penn Wood,'' the Knights' coach said. ""It's going to be an
undefeated showdown, I imagine. It's two different teams, two good
teams. It should be a great game.''
That game is in two weeks,
and the Patriots' encounter with Unionville is in one week. John Leary,
the Penn Wood coach, can do that math.
""Honest to God,'' he
said. ""We've been trying to stress this for weeks: Play them one at a
time. I told them, "Winners win one at a time.' I told them Unionville
is a tough team. I know we will have a tough game at Unionville.
""But they are kids.''
So
now that the kids from Penn Wood have come this far without a loss,
they are -- naturally -- considering the possibility of running the
table. As for yesterday around noon -- when they were ahead by only five
at the half -- they basically ran for cover, Leary apparently
dispensing a spirited intermission sermon.
Penn Wood used
Mackrey's 52-yard run to establish early field position, then took a 6-0
lead on Mackrey's three-yard blast with 7:50 left in the first. With
11:10 showing in the second quarter, Mackrey raced 15 yards for a score
and a 12-0 lead.
Academy
Park was not necessarily overwhelmed.
With
1:10 until halftime, Tim Flynn launched a 42-yard TD pass to Jeremy
Klein. As Klein was adding the PAT, he wasn't the only player on the
field doing some kicking. Mackrey, the defender on the touchdown, was
trying to kick himself in the backside.
""I felt real bad after that,'' said the Patriots' two-way factor. ""I got burnt. We all knew we had to do better.''
DeCorey
Pitts -- who later was in on a pair of sacks -- recovered a fumble to
put the Pats in third-quarter business, and four plays later quarterback
Kyle Hill plunged in from the one to make it 18-7. Hill's sprint around
right end meant two more points and a 20-7 cushion -- and gave the
recruiters from Pitt, Temple and Villanova who have been calling Leary
of late additional incentive to pound the redial button.
""We
were a little sluggish in the first half,'' Leary said. ""We were a
little shaky. Actually, I had to throw them off the field Friday. Lack
of execution. Lack of intensity. But we did a little better in the
second half.''
With 9:58 to play, Mackrey went five yards untouched off right guard to end the suspense.
Now, the storyline lengthens: Can Penn Wood win them all?
""Everybody is looking to November,'' Leary said. ""But we still have another game in October.
""I'm
still waiting for us to play four quarters of good football in one
game,'' he added. ""But I've seen improvement. I have to be pleased.''
Penn Wood 26, Academy
Park 7
Penn Wood 6 6 8 6 -- 26> Academy
Park 0 7 0 0 -- 7>
PW -- Mackrey 3 run (kick failed)
PW -- Mackrey 15 run (pass failed)
AP -- Klein 42 pass from Flynn (Klein kick)
PW -- Hill 1 run (Hill run)
PW -- Mackrey 5 run (pass failed)
TEAM STATISTICS PWAP
First Downs1411
Rushes-Yards32-17833-66
Passing Yards12484
Passes8-17-04-14-1
Punts-Av.3-33.64-19.0
Fumbles-Lost0-02-1
Penalties-Yards7-867-47
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Penn Wood: Mackrey 13-116, Hill 7-6, Wright 2-20, Davis 2-4, Reynolds 1-11, Audelein 5-8, Willis 2-13. Academy
Park: Carmichael 18-84, Klein 2-14, Smart 5-4, Flynn 8-(-36).
PASSING -- Penn Wood: Hill 8-17-0 124. Academy
Park: Flynn 4-14-1 84.
RECEIVING -- Penn Wood: Wright 3-37, Reynolds 4-82, Mackrey 1-5. Academy
Park: Klein 4-84.
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Mackrey, Penn Wood enjoy walk through Park - October 23, 1994
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