Tagged under: District 1, Gameday Hub, News, pfn, Playoffs
Michael Pietrangelo | November 2, 2024
UPPER DUBLIN —Senior running back Jordan Fields came into last night’s matchup with a moderate stat line of 43 carries for 328 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and three touchdowns as Upper Dublin’s primary change of pace back. When your number is called, though, you have to perform. Fields did exactly that on the heels of a 177-yard, three-touchdown performance as he and his Cardinal teammates celebrated a 31-21 victory over #11 seed Unionville in the opening round of the district One-5A playoffs. Not wanting to shine too much light his way, he credited the win to an overall team effort. “We played well, but honestly, I feel like we could have played better, and it was just a great team effort. I couldn’t do anything without the team.” Head coach Bret Stover felt the same way. “I’m very impressed with the way he carried the ball,” Stover said. “I was just telling him, his short yard runs where he got one or two, those are the ones that we needed. The big runs are the big runs, but I’m impressed with the way he stuck his head in there tonight and fell forward.”
The opening quarter got underway with Upper Dublin kicking off, and the Longhorns marched right down the field with an even offensive attack. Nine plays later, on a reverse that was taken 23 yards to paydirt by junior Drew Puleo, the Longhorns opened up the scoring. After the PAT, the score was 7-0 with 6:25 to go in the first quarter.
23 yard touchdown run by # 15 Drew Puleo with 6:25 to go in the first quarter. The PAT is good.@UnionvilleHSFB 7@UpperDublinFB 0@PaFootballNews @SOLsports pic.twitter.com/s1I6BFxht8
— Michael Pietrangelo (@ArtisticMayhem1) November 1, 2024
Upper Dublin got their evening started with a heavy dose of rushing attempts. A 16-yard pass to Eric Berman set the Cardinals up in the red zone at the Longhorn 18-yard line. Two plays later Senior quarterback Kevin Etkin somehow managed to squeeze a dart through a pinhole and connected with Berman again for the score. After the PAT, the score was all tied up at seven, with only 19 seconds remaining in the quarter.
With only :09 seconds left in the first quarter @EtkinKevin hits #21 Wric Bermen for an 18-yard score. The PAT is good and we are all locked up.@UnionvilleHSFB 7@UpperDublinFB 7@PaFootballNews @SOLsports pic.twitter.com/UpyfSEOB6B
— Michael Pietrangelo (@ArtisticMayhem1) November 1, 2024
The Longhorns would be forced to punt to open up the second quarter. Two plays later, Fields raced 47 yards to paydirt for his first rushing touchdown on the evening. After the converted PAT, the score was 14-7 in favor of the Cardinals, with 10:08 to play in the half. Less than a minute later, senior quarterback Tommy McGinnis escaped pressure and found a wide-open receiver in senior tight end Sam Pickar, who raced down the sideline 81 yards to the house. After the PAT, we were again all knotted up at fourteen with 9:05 to go in the half. Both teams exchanged possessions before Upper Dublin marched down the field again. With 3:33 left in the half, Jordan Fields found the endzone again. His second touchdown came from 6 yards out. The Matt Miller PAT extended the lead to 21-14. The half would close out with a block field goal attempt as time expired.
The third quarter saw little movement on the scoreboard, but midway through, Upper Dublin’s kicker Matt Miller connected from 26 yards out to give the Cardinals a ten-point lead with 4:02 left in the quarter. The Longhorns responded with a long drive of their own that took 7:23 off the clock but, again, came away with no points. Back-to-back incomplete passes on third and fourth down from the Upper Dublin eight kept it a two-possession game, 24-14, with 8:39 to go. The Longhorns didn’t give up. They Kept fighting. They forced a big three-and-out. On their next possession, Brody McLaughlin took the direct snap and scored from several yards out with 2:49 left in the game to get the Longhorns within a field goal of the Cards. “Our guys played the way we played all season,” Unionville head coach Tim Murphy said. “They just kept fighting. No matter what it was – no matter the time left on the clock, no matter the score – we just kept fighting.”
With 2:49 to go in the game the Longhorns edge closer. @Brody16Mac takes it in from 8-yards out. The PAT is good. @UpperDublinFB 24@UnionvilleHSFB 21 @PaFootballNews @SOLsports pic.twitter.com/e68WXMfzvW
— Michael Pietrangelo (@ArtisticMayhem1) November 2, 2024
The Longhorns tried for an onsides kick, but Shane Greenberg recovered it for Upper Dublin, and three plays later, Fields ran for his third and final touchdown, a 38-yarder that he barreled through to give the Cards the 31-21 lead with only 2:25 to go in the game. On the first play of Unionville’s ensuing drive, Berman jumped the route and nabbed the interception to seal the deal for the Cardinals. The Cardinals (8-3, 6-1) will travel to the third-seeded Phantoms of Phoenixville next week in the second round. Unionville’s (6-5, 2-2) season ends with the loss.
Scoring
First Quarter
UN – Puleo 23-yard run (Keaveney kick) 6:25
UD – Berman 18-yard reception from Etkin (Miller kick) :09
Second Quarter
UD – Fields 47-yard run (Miller kick) 10:08
UN – Sam Pickar 81-yard reception from McGinnis (Keaveney kick) 9:12
UD – Fields 7-yard run (Miller kick) 3:33
Third Quarter
UD –Miller 26-yard field goal 4:02
Fourth Quarter
UN –McLaughlin 9-yard run (Keaveney kick) 2:49
UD – Fields 38-yard run (Miller kick) 2:25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING
UN: McLaughlin 19-117, TD; McGinnis 8-34, Simcox 2-1; Puleo 1-23, TD.
UD: Fields 25-177, 3 TD; Etkin 9-28; Stokes 3-30; Greenberg 3-8; Tindal 1-3.
PASSING
UN: McGinnis 6-15-159-1-1.
UD: Etkin 8-14-107-1-0.
RECEIVING
UN: Puleo 3-61; Pickar 1-81, TD; Wenturine 1-10; McLaughlin 1-7.
UD: Berman 4-49, TD; O’Sullivan 2-27; Fields 1-20; Ravitz 1-11.
INTERCEPTIONS
UD: Berman
Player of the Week
* Senior running back Jordan Fields-Jordan was selected as my player of the week after turning in a 25-177-3 TDs performance on the evening while also hauling in a catch for 20 yards. Congratulations for balling out.
** Senior wide receiver/defensive back Eric Berman- Eric hauled in four passes for 49 yards and 1 TD. He also had the game sealing interception in the final 2 minutes of the game.
*** Senior quarterback Kevin Etkin- Kevin completed 57% (8/14) for 107 yards & 1 TD, he also contributed 28 rushing yards on nine carries.
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