Comeback kings
Roman’s heroics lead Executive Education Academy to first title
Jyhmiek Roman did not think Executive Education Academy’s last play was coming to him.
Teammate Darmel Lopez knew otherwise.
“Before the play even happened,” Lopez said, “I knew Jyhmiek was going to be double covered but I knew he [was] the better option.”
Lopez rolled right, patiently waited for the play to develop and Roman to break free from the double team. The Raptors quarterback threw back to the middle of the field, Roman got the ball in a battle with a Catasauqua defender near the 30-yard line and sprinted to the end zone for the game-winning 62-yard touchdown with three seconds left in Saturday’s District 11 Class 2A final.
The 32-29 victory allowed coach Larry Ford’s Raptors to capture their first district title in only two years of existence.
“We had a rough week of practice,” Ford said. “But every time we have a rough week we seem to come out on top in the game.
“I guess we need to keep having rough weeks of practice.”
Executive Education (7-3) plays District 2 champion Lakeland (12-0) in next weekend’s PIAA opener at a District 2 site to be announced. Catasauqua (7-5) hosts Northampton (11-1) in the rivalry’s 99th meeting on Thanksgiving Day.
The Rough Riders took a 29-25 lead with 2 minutes, 3 seconds left on Christian Fye’s 7-yard touchdown run.
But the Raptors just needed one big play to take the last of the game’s seven lead changes — all in the second half. Lopez, admittedly nervous before that drive started, stayed cool and let the last play develop.
“I knew we had an opportunity to have Jyhmiek have a chance to go up and get it,” Lopez said, “so I rolled right. The safety came over with me thinking I was going to throw it right. It was 1-on-1 with Jyhmiek.”
Roman had six catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns plus a 94-yard kickoff return for a score early in the fourth quarter.
The Raptors won despite 17 penalties, including three on the game-winning drive, to keep Catasauqua’s Anthonie Hunsicker from being the hero.
The Rough Riders senior ran for 177 yards on 34 carries and scored twice.
“I don’t even know what [Hunsicker’s] stat line was,” Ford said, “but he went off. I gave him much respect when we shook his hand. I didn’t think it was going to be that type of game.
“But he showed that he was a dog. He could run. That kid is a good ballplayer.”
Executive Education took its first lead at 12-8 on Lopez’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Zamier Perkins midway through the third quarter.
That set off an emotional
roller coaster for both teams and their fans at Whitehall’s Zephyr Stadium.
Catasauqua responded with a short drive after Wyatt Younes’ 32-yard kick return and a 15-yard Executive Education penalty. Hunsicker’s 9-yard touchdown run gave Catasauqua a 15-12 lead.
Three plays later, the Raptors regained the advantage when Lopez hit Damon Young with a 58-yard touchdown pass when
two Rough Riders defenders misplayed the ball that seemed destined for an interception.
Fye hit Younes with a 23-yard TD pass to give Catasauqua a 21-18 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Roman then returned the kickoff 94 yards for the Raptors.
The Rough Riders responded with a 12-play drive finished off by Fye’s scoring run with 2:03 left.
The Raptors picked up three first downs, then committed three penalties before Lopez and Roman connected to cap a wild second half.
“On the backside, I saw a little opening,” Roman said. “I knew Darmel was going to look to find someone open, so I went to the middle of the field. I saw the safety come down. I knew it was either he’d get it or I’d get it.
“I had to go get the ball and run it for a TD to get the win for the team.”
Catasauqua scored on its first series of the second quarter, marching 71 yards in six plays — all carries by Hunsicker. His 31and 19-yarders started the series. The senior’s 7-yarder capped the drive with 7 minutes left. He also ran for the 2-point conversion after an Executive Education offsides penalty.
Hunsicker had 107 rushing yards in the first two quarters.
The Rough Riders had a chance to extend their lead after an Aiden Hess interception return to the Raptors’ 30. But two holding penalties killed the drive.
Executive Education overcame several penalties to get on the board on its next drive. Lopez ran for 24 yards then hit Roman on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 54 seconds left in the half.
The Raptors hurt themselves with seven first-half penalties.