By Robert Huff
PARMA, Ohio- With a loss from this game meaning either team would most likely be eliminated from playoff contention, the stakes were high going into the Friday night matchup between Holy Name and Valley Forge. Both teams came into the game with identical records of 3-5 (2-2 in conference respectively) looking to hold on to their postseason hopes. Holy Name struck first with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Senior QB Joe Carter to Sophomore wide receiver David Boll for an early 7-0 lead. Later, in the second quarter, Carter completed his second touchdown of the game to Green Waves’ season reception leader Senior Andreus Harhalos on a 13-yard completion pushing the score to 14-0.
Harhalos would continue to leave his mark on the game in the second half, but the second quarter belonged to the Patriots. Valley Forge scored 27 unanswered points in the quarter. This point barrage began with a 92-yard kick return touchdown by Junior Dylan Magda, who also hauled in Carter’s only interception on the night also in the second quarter. Next were long touchdown runs of 54 and 49 yards by Sophomore fullback Mike Pappas. Valley Forge’s last score of the half was due to a great 44-yard run by Senior Louis Arena making the score 27-14.
The Green Wave finally answered back with :45 seconds remaining in the first half, scoring on a 37-yard pass from Carter to Harhalos to make the score 27-21 Valley Forge at the half.
Holy Name head coach Dan Wondolowski must have had one heck of a halftime speech, because after an amazing untouched 82-yard gallop for a touchdown by Pappas, the Patriots would not score again for the rest of the game.
Holy Name from this point dominated the rest of the game, scoring 28 points unanswered. Carter found Senior receiver Matt Springer for a 13-yard score to cut the lead to 27-21 Valley Forge. Next, Harhalos took the first of his two interceptions of the second half to the house for a 38-yard pick six to tie the game and take the lead back off of the ensuing extra point 28-27.
In the fourth quarter, Holy Name iced the game with Harhalos’ second interception of the game, and two touchdown runs of four and seven yards by Junior running back Evan Nicholas. Holy Name would go on to the 49-33 victory.
After the game, I asked Coach Wondolowski if he took any negatives from the game that he felt his team needed to improve before their next game. He gave me a one word answer: ” Tackling”.
With that, both teams head into the last week of the regular season looking to finish on a high note. Holy Name will face Parma, while Valley Forge will take on Bay on the road.
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