Penn Trafford stays in the playoff picture with a 35-21 win over Plum Friday night.
After Penn Trafford crossed into Plum territory on the opening drive, Conlan Greene’s pass was intercepted by Kayden Thomas and returned for a 55 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 Plum with under 10 minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Penn Trafford came back on the next drive with a 35 yard pass play from Greene to his halfback Ben Cardiff to the 9 yard line setting up first and goal. Plum’s defense stopped Penn Trafford on 3rd and goal from the 2 setting up a 4th and goal at the 2 yard line and they rolled the dice going for it.
Greene rolled out and ran for the goal line and was stopped shy of the end zone as Plum got the 4th down stop with under 4:30 to play in the first quarter.
Penn Trafford got the ball back after a three and out from Plum and Owen Demeri got the Warriors on the board on a 14 yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7 after one quarter of play.
In the second quarter Penn Trafford took the lead on a Greene quarterback keeper for a 16 yard touchdown capping off a 7 play 69 yard drive of all run plays giving the Warriors a 14-7 lead with just over 6 minutes to play in the half.
After a 15 yard facemask penalty on Penn Trafford, Plum had the ball at the Warriors 32 yard line as they were looking to tie the game with under 4 minutes to go until halftime.
On 4th and 12 from the 34 yard line, Sean Franzi found Darian Nelson for a 30 yard gain to the 4 yard line. The very next play Eryck Moore-Watkins took a handoff into the end zone from 4 yards out to tie the game at 14.
Penn Trafford put together a great drive with less than 2 and a half minutes to play in the first half as Greene got his second touchdown on a 17 yard run into the end zone capping off a 2 minute 75 yard drive.
Penn Trafford took a 21-14 lead into the locker room.
After a 3 and out from the Plum offense, Penn Trafford took over as they looked to extend the 7 point lead. Greene connected with his receiver Daniel Tarabrella for a 48 yard gain to the 8 yard line of Plum. Two plays later, Demeri scored his second touchdown of the game on a 3 yard touchdown run giving Penn Trafford a 14 point lead. He finished rushing for 190 yards on 25 carries.
In the 4th quarter Penn Trafford put the game out of reach, capping off a 14 play drive, as they took a 35-14 lead with 7:39 to play in the game as Greene scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, on a quarterback keeper from 2 yards out.
Penn Trafford tried to get a first down on a fake punt attempt but Dom Smith was stopped short of the first down giving the ball to Plum with 3:15 to play in the game.
After a 15 yard penalty after the punt, Plum had a short field to work with and scored quickly as Franzi threw a touchdown pass to Thomas from 7 yards out cutting the score to a 14 point game with 2:46 to play in the game.
Penn Trafford recovered the onside kick attempt from Plum and put the game away as they ran out the clock.
The Warriors ran the ball for 377 yards as Plum just could not stop the run game from Penn Trafford.
Penn Trafford could have used some help in regards to the Franklin Regional Hempfield game.
“We need help to get in (the playoffs). We got to do our part and not worry about it and hope that things work out,” said coach John Ruane to Kdka Radio’s Robert Mangino.