by 42-0. The Rangers improve to 2-0 on the year, while Valley Forge falls to 0-2
The Rangers started their first drive in promising territory after sophomore Brycen Palmer returned the kickoff to Valley Forge’s 46-yard line. The Rangers, however, struggled to take advantage of the strong field position. Sae’ion Law nearly lost the ball before being tackled for a 7-yard loss. The Rangers couldn’t get much going on their opening possession, and the drive stalled without putting points on the board.
Valley Forge’s first possession didn’t produce much either. Quarterback Lucas Schillinger nearly fumbled the ball but was able to recover, though it resulted in a 5-yard loss and left the Patriots facing a third and long situation. Schillinger’s pass attempt on third down fell incomplete, forcing Valley Forge to punt the ball back to the Rangers.
A couple of strong runs by junior King Mattice andsenior Kaydn Young pushed the Rangers deep into Valley Forge territory and into the red zone. Eastlake North continued to lean on its ground game before junior QB Josh Fenick finished the drive himself, taking it 11 yards into the end zone for a touchdown and gave the Rangers a 7-0 lead.
Once again, Valley Forge couldn’t get much going on its next possession. An incomplete pass and a run that went for no gain left the Patriots facing another third down, but the drive ended with another incomplete pass. Valley Forge was forced to punt, sending the ball back to the Rangers.
On Eastlake North’s next possession, it was all King Mattice. A couple of runs by Mattice moved the Rangers into a third and short situation before he broke free for a 40-yard touchdown. Mattice’sexplosive play extended Eastlake North’s lead to 14-0.
Valley Forge continued to struggle offensively on its next possession, failing to find any rhythm and eventually punting it back. The Rangers responded with a couple of solid runs that moved them into Valley Forge territory, but they couldn’t convert on third andmedium. Eastlake North was forced to punt, giving the ball back to the Patriots.
Valley Forge once again struggled to generate offense, facing a third and 10. Junior Cortezes Dimming III came up with a big sack, pushing the Patriots back and turning it into a fourth and a mile situation. Valley Forge had no choice but to punt, sending the ball back to Eastlake North.
On the Rangers’ next drive, a botched snap by QB Josh Fenick initially looked like it could spell disaster, but he quickly turned it into a positive. The botched snap led to a long run that pushed them into Patriots territory. Facing a third and medium, the Rangers went to the air for the first time all game, and it paid off. Fenick connected with senior tight end Mark Jakovljevic for a 28-yard touchdown, extending the Rangers’ lead to 21-0.
Another sack by Cortezes Dimming III forced the Patriots into a third and long situation, and Valley Forge couldn’t convert, punting the ball back to the Rangers. A short punt gave Eastlake North excellent field position, but a holding penalty quickly put the Rangers in another third-and-long. That didn’t stop Josh Fenick from looking for another score. The quarterback took off for a 33-yard touchdown run, extending Eastlake North’s lead to 28-0 heading into halftime.
The Patriots came out of halftime with solid field position after returning the kickoff near midfield. But Valley Forge couldn’t capitalize, as Purcel’s pass on third-and-long was intercepted by senior linebacker Brand Bambrick. Bambrick’s interception gave the Rangers possession in Patriots territory and kept the momentum firmly on Eastlake North’s side.
A couple of runs by King Mattice moved the Rangers closer to the end zone, setting up another scoring opportunity. Matticefinished the drive himself, powering his way into the end zone for another touchdown and extending Eastlake North’s lead to 35-0.
On the Patriots’ next possession, Valley Forge fumbled the balland Eastlake North’s Cortezes Dimming III recovered it, giving the Rangers excellent field position. From there, it was all Kaydn Young. After a couple of short runs moved the Rangers closer to the end zone, Young finished the drive running it in from 3 yards out for another touchdown. The score extended Eastlake North’s lead to 42-0
Valley Forge was led by QBs Lucas Schillinger, went 0/3 passing and ran for 8 yards on 10 carries and John Purcel who went 2/8 passing for 8 yards and 1 interception. Senior tight end Jaden Gill had 2 receptions for 8 yards
Eastlake North was led by QB Josh Fenick who went 1/1 passing with a 28 yard touchdown and rushed for 74 yards on 3 carries, 2 of them were for touchdowns. Running Back King Mattice rushed for 114 yards on 21 carries and 2 touchdowns. Running back Kaydn Young rushed for 39 yards on 8 carries and 1 touchdown. Tight end Mark Jakovljevic had 1 reception for 28 yards and a touchdown.
Players of the Game:
Valley Forge – Tight end Jaden Gill, 2 receptions for 8 yards
Eastlake North – Running Back King Mattice, 21 carries for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns
