Phantoms rally for victory

by Barry Sankey, The Phoenix

Posted on November 28, 2008

ROYERSFORD — In an unusual turn of events, Phoenixville found itself trailing twice during Thursday morning's annual Thanksgiving Day football game against Spring-Ford.

Nevertheless, the Phantoms regrouped, put their running game in gear, then stopped the Rams to come away with an 18-10 Schuylkill Bowl victory at Coach McNelly Stadium.

Some clutch running by Abdul Kelly, Sam McQuiston, Ricky Yenchick, and Derek Ryan — behind some good blocking up front — engineered the Phantoms' come-from-behind Pioneeer Athletic Conference victory in the season finale.

Kelly finished with a game-high 99 yards rushing on 14 carries with a five-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion run that gave the Phantoms an 11-10 lead after they trailed 3-0 and 10-3 in the early going.

Phoenixville closed out the season with a 7-2 record (8-4 overall) for third place in the PAC-10 behind only Pottsgrove and Owen J. Roberts. Spring-Ford finished the season at 2-7 (2-10).

"It was tough," admitted Kelly, who doubles at nose guard on defense. "We have been fighting adversity the whole year. It was good to come out big, come from behind and win. The seniors deserved it."

Kelly also led the charge on a fourth- and-13 sack of Spring-Ford standout quarterback Trevor Sasek in the final minute of play with the Rams driving for a possible tie. The 6-foot-6, 195-pound Sasek closed out his remarkable three-year varsity, record-setting career at Spring-Ford by completing 20 of 30 passes for 193 yards.

Sasek, who has given a verbal commitment to the University of Delaware, also rushed 17 times for 37 yards and played a strong game on defense at linebacker as well.

Dave Tyler rushed for 65 yards on 15 tries and a seven-yard touchdown for the Rams, surpassing the 1,000-yard plateau for the season. Wide receiver Andy Ellison caught 10 passes for 97 yards and broke the Rams' single-season rreception record (37). Tyler added five grabs for 33 yards out of the backfield.

"He (Sasek) is tough,"Kelly said. "I think he is going Division I. It was good for us to compete against a good player like him. I played against him three years on varsity and that made me better."

Kelly and the other six Phantom seniors will leave the school with a satisfying season in which they qualified for the District 1-Class AAA playoffs for the third time in four years with a relatively young, inexperienced group of players overall.

"Each year we have been making more progress," said Kelly, a sturdy 5-8, 170-pounder who plans to pursue elementary education in college next year.

The Rams' Jared Houck put Spring-Ford on the scoreboard first with a 36-yard field goal with the wind at his back on the final play of the first half for a 3-0 lead at the break. Phoenixville's John McInally knotted the contest at 3-3 on a 24-yard field goal with 5:53 remaining in the third period after a drive from the Phantoms' 28-yard line to the Rams' seven stalled with an incomplete pass on a dropped ball in the end zone.

Each placekicker missed on earlier tries, Houck from 31 yards out in the first period and McInally from 30 yards away in the second quarter.

Phoenixville coach Bill Furlong praised Spring-Ford for its valiant effort.

"Spring-Ford is a good team," Furlong said. "They are better than their record. We tried to tell the kids that. Spring-Ford made some big plays. But I like our kids the way they came back. They could have hung their heads early. Spring-Ford made some big plays, but we kept fighting.

"I am really proud of our kids, especially the seniors. It was a long time to go, 20 days without playing a game."

Furlong spread the ball around to different backs, the way he has done during his entire six-year tenure at Phoenixville.

Kelly made a pivotal 27-yard run on third-and-22 with 7:44 left in the fourth stanza. McQuiston rambled 33 yards on the ensuing counter play to the five-yard line before being tackled by Tyler, and Kelly burst into the end zone over the right side at the 7:03 mark.

"Abdul showed his tenacity," Furlong said. "He wasn't going down until he was in the end zone. There was no doubt Abdul was getting into the end zone. The blocking was OK, but he was persistent in getting in the end zone."

Spring-Ford coach Gary Rhodenbaugh praised both teams, too.

"I am very proud of the effort of our kids," Rhodenbaugh said. "Phoenixville, obviously, did a nice job. That is a credit to their coaching staff. But I am proud of our effort in the game. We hung right in there and played tough to the end.

"Trevor is just a complete football player. You can see it on the defensive side and the way he runs the ball. He is just a special player. He is somebody I have been fortunate enough to spend three or four years with. I wish him the best. He has left us a nice legacy at the quarterback position. Andy Ellison is a very quiet kid who has done a nice job, and David Tyler continues to improve and do special things. Hopefully, the experience will carry over to next year."

Sasek, a product of the Phoenixville Marian Youth Club (PMYC) program, talked about his outing.

"I just wanted to step up for Richie (Iannelli, the Rams; leading tackler at middle linebacker)," Sasek said. "He got hit in the ribs or kidneys and was taken out. It is definitely like a rivalry here. But I think it is a clean one. I don't think there are many dirty things going on."

NOTES

Spring-Ford's Andrew March registered two sacks and also had a tackle for loss. ... Chris Krumenecker and Mike Yeakle also had sacks for the Rams .while Bjorn Ullmann made a fumble recovery, and Matt Krueger played well up front. ... Kelly had two sacks for the Phantoms, while Mike Cress had a sack and tackle for loss. Vince Ciaverelli and Dennis Kelly combined on a sack, and Marcus Stokes had another sack. ... The Phantoms' Derek Ryan had a 10-yard scoring run and also made a fine catch on a 22-yard pass from Romano (6-for-8, 77 yards). ... Phoenixville's Anthony Nattle had three catches for 37 yards. ... The Rams' Mike Horan replaced Iannelli at middle linebacker and also had two catches for 25 yards on offense.

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