Jack Riffle’s final fling nets Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week
Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week
One look into his quarterback’s eyes told Fleetwood coach Steve Pangburn that Jack Riffle was equal to the challenge of leading his team back from a 27-point, second-half deficit.
“His confidence was through the roof,” Pangburn said.
Riffle threw three second-half touchdown passes and for a career-high 415 yards as the Tigers ended their season with a thrilling 42-41 overtime victory against Shamokin in the Eastern Conference Class 4A championship game.
“It was something out of a movie, to be honest with you,” Pangburn said of Riffle’s performance and the comeback. “Jack played the best game of his career tonight. I’m so proud of him. I always knew he had it in him, it was just (a matter of) having (everything) line up for one special night.”
Riffle completed 26-of-49 passes with no interceptions to earn Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week for the first time.
He set program records with his completions, attempts and passing yards. He became just the fifth Berks passer to top 400 yards in a game, and the fifth to complete 26 or more passes. He became the first passer in Berks history to attempt as many as 49 passes without an interception.
“That in itself is impressive,” Pangburn said. “They didn’t get their mitts on anything.”
The Tigers’ offensive line, Pangburn said, deserves a large measure of credit: Riffle wasn’t sacked once.
Riffle, a two-year starter, finished with a program-record 128 completions this season. He threw for 1,603 yards this season and 2,937 in his career, third-most in program history.
Fifteen of those completions Friday, and nearly half his passing yardage, went to senior and long-time teammate Mason Musitano.
“He’s got a guy he trusts and loves out there,” Pangburn said. “When things do get sticky he’s gonna throw that 50-50 ball, and Mason came down with them like he normally does.”
“We’ve been at it since we were 5 years old,” Musitano said of playing with Riffle since their flag football days. “We’re going to go out there and show what we’ve been working on for 13 years.”
Pangburn said that Riffle, knowing it was his last high school game, let it all hang out. He played loose and took some shots he normally might not have.
“He let it fly,” Pangburn said. “(He was) taking those chances that he might not have taken earlier (in the season). He was on fire from the start. We had a couple drops down the field or he probably would’ve gone for over 500.”
Riffle’s top passing performance came last season when he threw for 230 yards against Ephrata. His only other 200-yard game came this season against Garden Spot.
Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Riffle is the second Fleetwood player to earn the award this season. Senior running back Czion Bickle was selected following a Week 9 victory over Solanco.
Also considered for Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week:
- Connor Pennington, Berks Catholic
- Michael Bradley, Berks Catholic
- Carter Redding, Exeter
- Jayden Zandier, Exeter
- Czion Brickle, Fleetwood
- Mason Musitano, Fleetwood
- Alex Bentz, Hamburg
- Dominic Giuffre, Schuylkill Valley
- Kowen Gerner, Schuylkill Valley
- Logan Nawrocki, Schuylkill Valley
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Tyler Shuey, Hamburg
- Week 2: Tommy Hunsicker, Wilson
- Week 3: Dominic Giuffre, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 4: Jayden Zandier, Exeter
- Week 5: Drew Forrey, Wyomissing
- Week 6: Evan Johnson, Twin Valley
- Week 7: Drew Engle, Twin Valley
- Week 8: Jayden Zandier, Exeter
- Week 9: Czion Brickle, Fleetwood
- Week 10: Evan Myers, Twin Valley
Players selected last season:
- Week 1: Gio Cavanna, Muhlenberg
- Week 2: Cam Jones, Wilson
- Week 3: Pierce Mason, Hamburg
- Week 4: Gio Cavanna, Muhlenberg
- Week 5: Josiah Jordan, Berks Catholic
- Week 6: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Week 7: Cam Jones, Wilson
- Week 8: Dominic Giuffre, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 9: Leland Moore, Hamburg
- Week 10: Cam Jones, Wilson
- Week 11: Pierce Mason, Hamburg
- Week 12: Evan Johnson, Twin Valley
