Penn-Trafford edges rival Gateway, 15-10
Many expected this year’s “Battle for the Bell” between Gateway and Penn-Trafford to have a different look than years past, with the newlook Gators sporting a highpowered offense led by WPIAL passing leader Brad Birch.
Instead, the 2021 edition of the Big East Conference’s premier rivalry was yet another throwback — a smashmouth slugfest between two of the toughest and most physical football teams in the area.
Each team scored only one touchdown, and both defenses were phenomenal from start to finish. In the end, the Warriors (5-2, 2-0) did just enough to win — thanks in large part to two field goals by senior Nathan Schlessinger — pitching a second-half shutout en route to a 15-10 win against the Class 5A No. 3-ranked Gators (4-3, 1-1).
“I thought our defense was awesome,” said PennTrafford coach John Ruane. “Getting guys to the ground, coverage was good, I thought we had a good pass rush. That’s a terrific football team. They’ve got athletes everywhere. I’m just so proud of our defense tonight.”
Warriors senior Cade Yacamelli was bottled up by Gateway’s defense for much of the first half, but an explosive 56-yard run by the Wisconsin recruit helped set up Penn-Trafford’s only touchdown of the game. Yacamelli finished with 131 yards rushing on 20 carries, while Warriors quarterback Carter Green ran for 87 yards on 21 attempts.
“It’s always an awesome battle with those guys,” Yacamelli said. “I think it’s the best rivalry in high school football, hands down. So for us to come out with that, especially our defense playing lights out — it’s awesome. I can’t describe it.”
Birch, a star sophomore quarterback, passed for 109 yards and a touchdown in the first half. But Penn-Trafford’s defense shut the Gators offense down in the second half, limiting Birch to just one completion for 5 yards. Birch finished the game 11 for 16 with 114 yards and a score to go with 37 yards rushing on 11 carries.
“It’s the same story. It’s like watching the same movie,” said Gateway coach Don Holl. “We’re not consistent enough up front. We can’t run the ball when we need to run it against good teams. We’re having trouble protecting the passer against good teams.”
The Warriors offense went three-and-out on the opening drive of the game, then the Gators took an early 3-0 lead on a 35-yard field goal by Cole Plaskon. Green lost a fumble on PennTrafford’s next possession, but he would score the first touchdown of the game on a 6-yard keeper following Yacamelli’s 56-yard scamper.
After an errant snap went over Gateway’s punter’s head and out the back of the end zone for a safety to give the Warriors a 9- 3 lead, Birch engineered a six-play, 82-yard scoring drive to put the Gators back on top, 10-9. Birch hooked up with Patrick Body three times on the drive, including a 46yard completion deep down the middle of the field where Body showed off his elite speed to make the catch.
Green lost another fumble on Penn-Trafford’s ensuing drive, but he managed to recover a fumble on defense on the very next play. He connected with Jacob Otto for a 16-yard gain to set up Schlessinger’s 42-yard field goal just before the half, giving the Warriors a 12-10 lead going into the break.
“You look at the way it went — they had one big play, we had one big play, and the rest of it was a grind,” Ruane said. “It was tough sledding.”
Schlessinger drilled a 36yard kick with 9:48 to play to make it a 15-10 game, and Penn- Trafford’s defense stopped Gateway running back Jaquon Reynolds on a fourth-and-1 near midfield to secure the hard-fought victory for the Warriors.