W.C. Henderson 31, Pottsgrove 28

By Don Seeley
dseeley@potstmerc.com

LOWER POTTSGROVE — Sometimes, as painful as it may be, you have to step back and bow to the better team ... to the victor.

And as unaccustomed as Rick Pennypacker is to doing that, he nonetheless gave rival Henderson its well-earned due and props.

The veteran Pottsgrove head coach had no choice after watching the visiting Warriors’ defense dominate the second half of Friday night’s District 1-Class AAA semifinal, ending the Falcons’ unbeaten run and season, 31-28.

The Warriors (9-3) — who will meet Interboro in next week’s district final at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School — dug out of a 14-0 hole in the first quarter get within 21-14 at the half. Then, after getting back to even twice in the second half, they took their initial lead of the entire evening when Sean Engle boomed a 31-yard field goal just inside the right upright with 2:54 remaining.

They got the lead ... and the win.

“No excuses,” Pennypacker said. “(Henderson) executed, made the big plays. We didn’t. We probably made more mistakes tonight than we had the whole season. Give (Henderson) credit.”

(For complete story, click here...) 

Pottsgrove’s Zach Birch (left) and Sene Polamalu (4) hit Henderson quarterback James Bady and force a fumble. Bady would recover the ball himself. (Photo by Tom Kelly III)

Fast start doesn’t do Falcons any favors

Pottsgrove's Tory Hudgins is off to the races during Friday night's game against Henderson. (Photo by Tom Kelly III)

By Austin Hertzog
ahertzog@pottsmerc.com

LOWER POTTSGROVE — First quarters and the Pottsgrove football team haven’t gotten along so well in more than a handful of games this season.

A game’s first 12 minutes have served as a feeling-out process, if you will.

The next 36 minutes of the clock, that’s when the Falcons made it much more of a ‘Feel This!’ process in running up an 11-0 record and earning the top seed in the District 1-Class AAA playoffs,

It wouldn’t be out of line to call the first quarter of Friday night’s district semifinal against West Chester Henderson a surprising twist.

(For complete story, click here...)

Video from Pottsgrove-West Chester Henderson

Austin Hertzog and Don Seeley are at Pottsgrove for tonight's District 1-AAA semifinal matchup between No. 1 Pottsgrove and No. 4 West Chester Henderson. Video will be posted here, with the most recent clip at the top:

Brennan runs it in to put Falcons back on top:

Hudgins to Fowler inside the 5 sets up a TD: