Bishop England Holds Off Philip Simmons 20-13
The Iron Horses were looking to tie the all-time series record at four wins apiece but the Battling Bishop’s got the win, giving them a 5-3 lead.
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Charleston – Friday night’s battle between area rivals Bishop England and Philip Simmons started out as if it was going to be a high scoring affair; however, the game turned into a defensive slugfest that wasn’t sealed until BE’s Jackson Radcliffe intercepted PS’s Hayes Goddard with under 30 seconds to play to send the Battling Bishop’s home with a 20-13 win.
Entering Friday night’s contest, the Iron Horses were looking to tie the all-time series record at four wins apiece but the win is the fifth for the Battling Bishop’s giving them a 5-3 lead.
“I’m so proud of this team, so proud of the effort and the defense played well. At the end of the day this is a rivalry game and it was 20-13. We knew we were going to get their best and that was a heck of a football game,” said BE head coach Logan Hall.
Bishop England is now 3-0 as they host AAAAA West Ashley(0-2) next week while Philip Simmon’s fall to 0-3 as they head to AAAAA Cane Bay (2-1), a 21-7 winner over West Ashley.
Despite being 0-3 the Iron Horse’s are still one of the top team’s in AA and playing such a tough early season schedule is designed to get them ready for bigger things down the road.
“We’ll never except losing. I told the guys I’m proud of their effort and the we can work to fix certain things,” said PS head coach Eric Bendig. “I told our guys that is one of the best defense’s they will face all year. This is an unbelievable rivalry, just the location. A lot of these guys grew up together so we knew it would be a tough game.”
The game started out perfect for the Iron Horses as their defense, after allowing a couple of Bishop first downs, forced a punt that traveled into the end zone for touchback.
Starting from their 20-yard line the Iron Horses went 80-yards in 10-plays to take a 6-0 lead when Goddard found all-state wide out Ashton Kellermann for a four yard touchdown toss. Goddard was 5-6 on the drive, hitting four different receivers with Kellerman catching the final two. The extra point was no good giving PS a 6-0 lead.
Despite the scoring drive, the BE front four of seniors Matthew Ponkow, Luke Russell, Luke Balog, and Jackson Kunz gave a preview of the pressure they would bring all night on Goddard. On the opening drive made a couple of Houdini moves to get passes off.
“We challenged our defensive line to dominate all week. I told our guys we go as the defense goes right now,” BE coach Hall said.
The BE offense responded on their next drive as they went 70 yard in just four plays all of them pass completion s from quarterback Banks Luton to wide receiver William Danto. The final on coming from 36 yards out. Christian Thomas added the point after for a 7-6 BE lead.
The Iron Horses started their next drive at the Battling Bishops 45 after Jeremiah Richardson returned the kickoff 47 yards. The BE defense allowed three-yards and forced a punt which downed on the three yard line.
The Battling Bishops wasted little time in covering the 97 yards as used just 1:50 off the clock when Trevor Tonon covered the final 16-yards. The point after was missed and the BE lead was 13-6. Chase Tonon did most of the damage as he had two rushes for 50 yards and had drew a face mask penalty.
The Iron Hores’s appeared ready to tie the game when Goddard hit Kellerman for a 57 yard gain to the BE 23 yard line. However, on third and two Goddard was picked off by Chase Tonon at the one.
The Battling Bishops were able to move the ball out to their 33 before a sack by the Iron Horses Diavante Irving forced a punt on fourth down.
PS again moved the ball down field when Goddard hit Tyrus Alston and Maurico Curry with 12 and 20 yard completions. On third and 10, Goddard was sacked for a four yard loss. He was able to make the first BE defender miss but not the rest.
Starting from their 31 with 2:19 remining the Battling Bishop’s would travel the 69 yards in 10 plays when Luton hit Chase Tonon from 9 yards out. Thomas added the extra point and the teams went to the half with BE leading 20-7. Luton was 4-6 on the drive for 47-yards and he rushed four times for 15 yards.
“We played well on offense in the first half but we are very sloppy on offense at time,” said BE coach Hall.
PS started the third quarter with ball but were forced into a three and out.
The Battling Bishops first drive of the third quarter went for -11 yards as the defensive front of Alex Tchoryk, Jordan Johnson and Roman Hood came to life for the Iron Horses. After giving up over 200 yards and 20 points in the first half the PS defense would hold BE to less than 100 yards and zero points in the second half.
The Iron Horses would cut the lead to 7 on their next possession as Goddard hit Kellerman for the second time for a touchdown. This one was from 45-yards out. Sutton Schultz added the point after and the lead was cut to 20-13.
The Iron Horse defense would not allow a drive by the Battling Bishops to cover more than 38 yards in the second half.
