Panthers vault over Cougars
Schuylkill Valley’s Anikin Glassmire threw three first quarter touchdown passes to Joe Jardine to propel the Panthers to a 49-18 win over Kutztown at Kutztown University’s Andre Reed Stadium on Oct. 6.
Jardine, who also does the kicking and punting duties for the Panthers, used his speed and leaping ability to snare passes of 25, 43 and 40 yards for the scores.
“We had some kids out sick this week and he got some more reps (at practice),” Schuylkill Valley head coach Jeff Chillot said. “He’s a state champion in the pole vault and a very good athlete who can catch the ball.”
A botched punt attempt on Kutztown’s first possession gave the Panthers the ball on the Cougars 14. Four plays later Tyler Worrell ran in from the 2 for a 7-0 SV lead.
Logan Grauer, the county leader in receiving, used those skills on the defensive side of the ball to intercept two passes in the first quarter.
“That was a great job by Grauer,” Chillot said. “He used really good technique and made two great catches.”
After the first turnover, the Panthers drove 37 yards in 5 plays with Jardine making a leaping catch in the end zone for a 25-yard score.
Kutztown (0-2, 0-6) responded with a 10-play, 72-yard drive, capped by a 2-yard run from Caleb Riegel to pull the Cougars to within 14-6.
The Panthers (1-0, 3-3) recovered the ensuing onside kick at its own 46 and four plays later scored when Glassmire found Jardine open deep along the right sideline for a 43-yard score.
After Grauer’s second interception at the Cougars 40, Glassmire found Jardine across the middle for a 40-yard score and the Panthers led 28-6 with 52 seconds left in the first quarter.
Schuylkill Valley turned to the run game in the second quarter for two scores.
After a short punt by Kutztown gave the Panthers the ball at the Cougars 21, Jackson Brown ran through the middle of the Kutztown defense for the score.
The Panthers scored again when Zach Myers scored on a 4-yard run to cap a 5-play, 43yard drive to take a 42-12 halftime lead.
The win snapped a three game losing streak for Schuylkill Valley.
“Our offense was good in the first half,” Chillot said. “We scored quickly, which isn’t bad. It was fun to have success. It was two weeks since our last game and we told the team that’s history.”
Although the Cougars could not stop the SV offense, the Kutztown offense was able to move the ball and total yards for the game slightly favored the Panthers, 348-341.
Kutztown was able to move the ball with the strong running of Riegel (25-144, TD) and passing of Charlie Maddocks, 19-of-31 for 216 yards and 2 TDs.
Bradlee Benjamin caught 8 passes for 99 yards and a score.
“(Riegel) runs hard and is tough to bring down,” Chillot said. “(Maddocks) is a playmaker. He can run around and that type of quarterback worries me.”
As for his team, Chillot said that he was pleased with the success of the running game (25-188) and that the defense needs to cut down on giving up big plays.
Brown had 7 carries for 68 yards and Worrell had 7-67. Glassmire was 5-of-10 passing for 160 yards.