Missed Opportunity: Penncrest Football Falls Short in Season Opener

The football team opened their season at home Friday night with a disappointing 21-0 loss to the Bayard Rustin Golden Knights. Despite the shutout, the Lions got an impressive performance from junior quarterback Shane Donnelly.

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Final

Penncrest (0-1)

0

0

0

0

0

Bayard Rustin (1-0)

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0

14

7

21

IN SHORT

In the early going, Penncrest appeared to have the advantage—driving methodically and consistently converting even distant third downs on the strength of the right arm of junior quarterback Shane Donnelly. The Lions failed to convert yardage into points though, as their two long first half drives stalled inside the ten and kicker Jeremy Gonzales missed the subsequent field goals.

After the scoreless first, visiting Rustin took over. Sophomore Eric Dunion blocked a Lion punt two minutes into the third quarter and the Golden Knights, unlike their opponent, capitalized on the opportunity: on third down and three, Delaney found wide open receiver CJ Steinmetz up the seam for a 29-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Seven minutes later, the Golden Knights scored again on a beautiful 22-yard touchdown rush by halfback Joe Palladino. The senior leapt over one Lion and bowled through another for the score.

Then, with 7:35 remaining in the game, Rustin's star receiver, Duke-bound Anthony Nash, caught a shortpass in the flat and tore up the visiting sideline to give Rustin a 21-0 lead and put the proverbial nail in the Lions' coffin.

LION OF THE GAME

Shane Donnelly: The junior, who’s in his second season as the Lions starter, showed off his arm strength, but more impressively, his discretion: he has a good sense of when to float it and when to fire it. “He’s got the biggest arm in the league,” opined an injured teammate.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Joe Gartland: The scatback was one of Donnelly’s favorite targets out of the backfield all night, made plays with his legs as well, and got up after every (hard) hit the Golden Knights stout defense laid on him.

COACH’S TAKE

“If we were to score there in the first half, either a touchdown or making one of those field goals, that changes the whole complexion of the game,” said Lions first-year head coach Rick Stroup. “The kids played hard the entire game though and didn’t give up.”

THEY SAID IT

“He just missed them,” said Lions’ kicking coach Mike Ludwig of the struggles of his young kicker. “He’s gotta get better.”