Panthers overcome sluggish start, stay unbeaten in Section 5

By Michael Pollis Last updated Oct 8, 2023

2023 Berks football coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)

By Michael Pollis — LNP/Lancasteronline

COLUMBIA — Four second-half turnovers doomed Columbia as Schuylkill Valley broke open a close game and defeat the Tide 28-12 in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 5 game Friday night.

Columbia dressed fewer than 20 active players, while Schuylkill Valley had nearly 50 but was again playing without All-State running back Dominic Giuffre, who has a broken arm.

Yet the slogan all over town of “Roll Tide” seemed appropriate as the home team refused to roll over, instead showing toughness and grit in playing the favored Panthers to a virtual deadlock for 30 minutes, trailing only 7-6.

After Columbia (0-4, 1-6) threw three straight incompletions to go three-and-out on its opening drive of the second half, the Tide defense rose to the occasion by also forcing a punt. The Panthers boomed a 53-yard punt that rolled to the Columbia 5-yard line.

On the next play, Schuylkill Valley (4-0, 6-1) forced a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by Colby Stricker for a touchdown.

Later in the half, another turnover led to a score. Colby Crills’ interception led to a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Logan Nawrocki.

Kowen Gerner, who caught seven passes for 172 yards, essentially sealed the game early in the third quarter when he took a short wide receiver screen, juked a few defenders and raced down the left sideline for a 79-yard score.

Schuylkill Valley marched down the field on its first drive of the game behind a strong running game. The Panthers began pounding the rock between the tackles on the game’s first two plays, with Cooper Hohenadel rattling off runs of 24 and then 15 yards. A few plays later, Hohenadel raced around the right side for a 7-yard score.

Despite giving up that early score the Tide defense bent but never broke again in the first half. Two other times the Panthers moved the ball into Columbia territory, but the defense stiffened, forcing a fumble on one drive and forcing a missed 30-yard field goal attempt on another.

A third potential drive ended near midfield when Columbia’s Phoenix Noel burst through the offensive line and dropped Schuylkill’s running back for a big loss on third down, forcing a punt. Noel also stifled the Panthers on their first drive of the second half, recording a huge sack on third down.

Columbia’s offense could not get much going in the first half, mustering only two first downs, but it certainly made the most of one of them.

Facing fourth-and-long at the 44-yard line, Columbia’s Cameron McClair lofted a long pass down the right sideline to Quincy Stewart, who had gained a step on the defensive back for a touchdown that electrified the hometown crowd.

	1	2	3	4	Final
Schuylkill Valley	7	0	7	14	28
Columbia	6	0	0	6	12

Scoring summary

1	Schuylkill Valley	Hohenadel, 7 run (Wamsher kick)
1	Columbia	Stewart, 44 pass from McClair (kick blocked)
3	Schuylkill Valley	Stricker, 0 fumble recovery (Wamsher kick)
4	Schuylkill Valley	Gerner, 79 pass from Nawrocki (Wamsher kick)
4	Schuylkill Valley	Nawrocki, 5 run (Wamsher kick)
4	Columbia	Poindexter, 2 run (pass failed)

Team statistics

	Schuylkill Valley	Columbia
First downs	10	5
Rushes-yards	33-124	14-15
Passing yards	194	114
Total yards	318	129
Passes	7-19-1	12-31-4
Fumbles-lost	1-1	1-1
Punts-average	5-35	7-35
Penalties-yards	4-25	3-15

Individual statistics

RUSHING

Schuylkill Valley: Hohenadel 25-93, Cammauf 4-13, Nawrocki 4-10, Pyle 1-(-4).

Columbia: Campbell 6-29, Poindexter 2-9, Simms 1-4, Nichols 2-(-7), McClair 4-(-16).

PASSING

Schuylkill Valley: Nawrocki 4-10-0–206.

Columbia: McClair 12-31-4–114.

RECEIVING

Schuylkill Valley: Gerner 7-187, Spotts 1-15, Lackner 1-4.

Columbia: Simms 8-55, Stewart 2-49, Poindexter 1-7, Campbell 1-3, Nichols 1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS

Schuylkill Valley: Crills 2, Lackner, Gehret.