Even without top threat, Panthers roll past Pequea
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Andrew Clauser— MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Losing an All-State running back and top scoring threat would normally be devastating to most teams but not for Schuylkill Valley coach Bruce Harbach and his Panthers.
A promising group of juniors, led by quarterback Logan Nawrocki and his five touchdowns, stepped up to lift Schuylkill Valley to a 49-6 Lancaster-Lebanon Section 5 win over Pequea Valley Friday night in Leesport.
The Panthers (2-0, 4-1) were without Dominic Giuffre, who broke his arm last week at Kutztown. He’ll miss the next several games.
The Panthers looked just fine as Giuffre’s teammates stepped up, especially Nawrocki, who threw four touchdown passes and scored one rushing, all in the first half.
Harbach wasn’t surprised by this performance or how his team handled business despite the loss of Giuffre.
“We had to get the ball to our playmakers and we did that,” he said. “Every time we got the ball we scored and that’s what good teams do. We took care of business.”
Nawrocki’s five-touchdown performance was exactly what the Panthers expected and got from their quarterback. He came out firing, completing his first six passes, including a 9-yard touchdown strike to Dillon Lackner, a junior receiver.
On the next drive Nawrocki delivered a perfect ball to junior Kowen Gerner in stride for a 59-yard touchdown reception and a 14-0 lead.
“We threw in a couple of new plays and based on their coverage we knew we could take advantage of that,” Nawrocki said.
Nawrocki’s other trusted target, Lucas Spotts, took over in the second quarter. The junior linebacker/tight end intercepted a Braves (0-2, 1-4) pass on their own 24-yard line and brought it back to the 6.
“We had good pressure off the edge and saw the quarterback about to throw so I put my hands up, blocked it and it came back to me,” said Spotts.
Nawrocki rewarded Spotts with a touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. The two juniors connected again in the second quarter on a 64-yard reception that almost resulted in a TD. After two penalties put the Panthers back 20 yards Nawrocki found Spotts again for a 27-yard touchdown reception and a 42-0 lead before halftime.
It’s a connection that goes back several years.
“Since junior high he’s been my tight end and we have been great together all these years,” said Nawrocki.
Nawrocki also gave credit to his running backs that stepped up in Giuffre’s absence. Junior Cooper Hohenadel (3-yard touchdown run and interception) and sophomore Logan Cammauf had big shoes to fill and will continue to be relied upon for the next few weeks in Giuffre’s absence.
“They both stepped up and played for us tonight,” said Nawrocki. “They know what they are doing and will contribute well in Dom’s absence.”
Cammauf’s 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the Panthers a 49-0 lead and a chance for the second string to get some work in for the entire fourth quarter.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Pequea Valley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Schuylkill Valley | 14 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 49 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Schuylkill Valley | Lackner, 9 pass from Nawrocki (Wamsher kick) | 5:31 |
| 1 | Schuylkill Valley | Gerner, 59 pass from Nawrocki (Wamsher kick) | 0:33 |
| 2 | Schuylkill Valley | Hohenadel, 3 run (Wamsher kick) | 11:56 |
| 2 | Schuylkill Valley | Spotts, 1 pass from Nawrocki (Wamsher kick) | 9:09 |
| 2 | Schuylkill Valley | Nawrocki, 24 run (Wamsher kick) | 7:39 |
| 2 | Schuylkill Valley | Spotts, 27 pass from Nawrocki (Wamsher kick) | 2:03 |
| 3 | Schuylkill Valley | Cammauf, 34 run (Wamsher kick) | 7:08 |
| 4 | Pequea Valley | Tibbins, 2 run (kick failed) | 6:12 |
Team statistics
| Pequea Valley | Schuylkill Valley | |
| First downs | 11 | 7 |
| Rushes-yards | 29-118 | 17-83 |
| Passing yards | 65 | 213 |
| Total yards | 183 | 296 |
| Passes | 6-10-2 | 12-19-1 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| Punts-average | 1-2 | 1-23 |
| Penalties-yards | 3-20 | 4-35 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Pequea Valley: Petershiem 9-54, Tibbins 8-37, Neff 2-12, Carter 1-9, Stauffer 1-9, Vollmer 5-5, Stoltzfus 3-(-8).
Schuylkill Valley: Cammauf 3-50, Nawrocki 2-30, Hohenadel 8-14, Ortiz 1-1, Pyle 3-(-12).
PASSING
Pequea Valley: Stoltzfus 5-9-2–55, Carter 1-1-0–10.
Schuylkill Valley: Nawrocki 10-14-0–201, Aletras 2-5-1–12.
RECEIVING
Pequea Valley: Petershiem 5-55, Shultz 1-10.
Schuylkill Valley: Spotts 6-114, Gerner 2-69, Lackner 2-18, Rubinos 1-6, Woods 1-6.
INTERCEPTIONS
Pequea Valley: Tibbins.
Schuylkill Valley: Spotts, Hohenadel.
