Spring-Ford 35, Pennridge 24

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

PERKASIE — Big plays in the playoffs are well, just that ... big, as in very, very big. As in what often extends a team’s postseason run into late November and early December.
Spring-Ford’s frigid fans didn’t have enough fingers and toes to count’m all up Saturday afternoon, as the Rams came up with a slew of them offensively and defensively in a thrilling 35-24 win over host Pennridge in a District 1 Class AAAA semifinal showdown at Poppy Yoder Field.
And while all big plays can’t be measured by the yards or points they produce, Spring-Ford certainly had its share of them, too. None as key as in the final drive, which started with 7:38 left and — thanks to quarterback Hank Coyne converting a pair of third-down passes covering 26 and 15 yards, and Yousef Lundi running for 14 yards to convert another — ended with Coyne taking a knee as the clock wound down to all zeroes.

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Photo by Kevin Hoffman/The Mecury Spring-Ford's Zameer McDowell hauls in a 25-yard TD reception Saturday.

FOOTBALL: Defense carries Spring-Ford to District 1 final

Photo by Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury Spring-Ford's Kyle Hoffner intercepts a pass Saturday.

By Barry Sankey
bsankey@journalregister.com

PERKASIE — Spring-Ford extended its history-making football season at least one more week Saturday afternoon, and the Rams’ defense had a lot to do with it.
Spring-Ford may have defeated Pennridge, 35-24, in a District 1-Class AAAA semifinal to advance to the district championship game gainst Coatesville, but somewhat camouflaged by that high score was some solid play by the defense. That effort included three turnovers against Pennridge that included a fumble recovery on the hosts’ first play from scrimmage and two big second-half interceptions.

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FOOTBALL: Jones, Spring-Ford pass Class test

Spring-Ford's Mason Romano (52), Robby Varner (56), Ian Hare (57), Travis Daywalt (35) and R.J. Shelton (81) gang-tackle Pennridge's Mike Class Saturday.

By Darryl Grumling
dgrumling@pottsmerc.com

PERKASIE — The status of each team’s feature back was a feature angle heading into Saturday’s District 1-Class AAAA semifinal.
Much ado had been made all week about whether Pennridge workhorse Mike Class would see action after reportedly suffering a concussion during a quarterfinal victory the week before over Pennsbury.
Spring-Ford junior tailback Jarred Jones, meanwhile, was a question mark as well, having come out of last week’s quarterfinal win over Ridley with a bruised knee.
So when Class started the game and Jones remained on the Spring-Ford sideline, conventional wisdom suggested it would be a huge advantage for the third-seeded hosts.
Over the final two quarters, however, the tale of the two standout rushers took a decided turn to the Spring-Ford side.
Jones didn’t earn his first carry until the first play of the second half, but boy was it a memorable one — a 74-yard TD sprint that set the tone for a strong finish as Spring-Ford continued its scintillating season with a 35-24 victory at Poppy Yoder Field.

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VIDEO from Spring-Ford vs. Pennridge

We'll have video highlights as they're available from today's District 1 semifinal between Spring-Ford and Pennridge, courtesy of Darryl Grumling & Don Seeley.

Post-game interview with Zameer McDowell:

Zameer McDowell 25-yard TD catch. Rams lead 34-24:

Jarred Jones opens 2nd half with a 74-yard TD Run. 28-18 Rams:

BATTLE OF BATTERING RAMS COVERAGE

Spring-Ford visits Pennridge this afternoon (1 p.m.) in the District 1-Class AAAA semifinals at Poppy Field in Perkasie.

Check back here for exclusive coverage ... we'll have it all!

Pre-game report (video) with Don Seeley and Darryl Grumling
When someone scores - you'll have it on Twitter
Halftime report (video) with Don Seeley and Darryl Grumling
When someone scores - you'll have it on Twitter
Postgame report (video) with Don Seeley and Darryl Grumling ... and possibly a surprise guest!

Then check back here tonight for complete coverage:
Game story by Don Seeley
Game notebook by Darryl Grumling
Statewide playoff notebook by Don Seeley

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED TODAY

FOOTBALL: Spring-Ford, Pennridge regrouped, ready for District 1-AAAA semifinal

(Mercury file photo) Spring-Ford football coach Chad Brubaker will lead the Rams into Saturday's District 1-AAAA semifinal against Pennridge.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

PERKASIE — For a good part of a week, it seemed everyone was asking who would be playing and who wouldn’t be playing for Spring-Ford on Thanksgiving eve, and who would be playing and who wouldn’t be playing for Pennridge on Thanksgiving morning.
Everyone got their answers, some of which they liked and, of course, some of which they didn’t like.
But there will be no such questions today, because both Spring-Ford and Pennridge have regrouped and re-energized their football engines since their mid-week holiday commitments, and both are Ram-ed up for this afternoon’s (1 p.m.) District 1-Class AAAA semifinal showdown at Poppy Yoder Field.

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FOOTBALL: Many similarities between Spring-Ford and Pennridge

(JRC file photo) Jarred Jones and Spring-Ford take on Pennridge in a District 1-AAAA semifinal Saturday at 1 p.m. at Poppy Yoder Field.

By Don Seeley
dseeley@pottsmerc.com

If there is one thing both Spring-Ford and Pennridge learned in last week’s District 1-Class AAAA quarterfinals, it was how no lead is a safe lead … and how to, well, hang on.
Spring-Ford had a 28-0 halftime lead, then withstood a Ridley air attack for a 28-26 win — which wasn’t secured until Zameer McDowell dropped Ridley’s quarterback one yard short of the end zone on a two-point conversion attempt with 2:46 remaining. Pennridge had a 28-7 lead late in the third quarter, then withstood a very impressive Pennsbury rally for a 28-27 win – not secured until Pennsbury’s final point-after attempt hit the upright with 1:47 remaining.
Eerie similarities, for sure.
Big leads.
Big leads nearly blown.
A two-point win, a one-point win.
And both teams are coming off their traditional Thanksgiving games — Spring-Ford against Phoenixville (played Wednesday night), and Pennridge against Quakertown (played Thursday morning).
On top of all that, they’re both the Rams.
So, dare we say it? Sure, why not.
This afternoon’s district semifinal could be (and probably will be) a “Battle of the Battering Rams.”

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OFFICIAL WEEKLY SCHEDULE

By Don Seeley

Athletic directors and District 1 officials have released this week's schedule of games involving Mercury-area teams:

7 p.m. Wednesday: Phoenixville vs. Spring-Ford at Coach McNelly Stadium in Royersford.

10 a.m. Thursday: Pottstown vs. Owen J. Roberts at Wildcat Stadium in Bucktown.

1 p.m. Saturday: Spring-Ford vs. Pennridge at Poppy Yoder Field, Pennridge South Middle School in Perkasie.