Franklin Regional takes down Armstrong in overtime

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 22, 2017 | 11:27 PM

Previous Next

Previous Next

Franklin Regional coach Greg Botta didn't hesitate in overtime.

Faced with fourth-and-goal at the Armstrong 3, Botta sent Domenick DiFalco on to attempt a 20-yard field goal.

DiFalco's field goal and Nate Leopold's fumble recovery on Armstrong's first play of its overtime possession helped Franklin Regional escape with a thrilling 26-23 victory over the River Hawks on Friday in a WPIAL Class 5A Big East Conference game.

The victory came a week after the Panthers (3-1, 3-1) were stunned by Plum. Armstrong (2-3, 0-3) hurt itself with four turnovers and three personal foul penalties.

“You have to put points on the board,” Botta said. “I was hoping the defense would make a stand. We made an adjustment with our ends to free up Bryce, and I think he jarred the ball loose.”

DiFalco added: “The winning kick means a lot; it's what I live for. I can't describe it. Coming off last week' game, this was a must win for us.”

Leopold, who became the starting quarterback when Adam Rudzinski was injured last week, said he was hoping the Panthers would force a fumble.

“My eyes lit up when the ball came out and rolled right to me,” Leopold said. “I haven't played quarterback since freshman year. I knew I had to step up for my team.

“We were beat up and Blaze (O'Block) made a heck of a catch for the touchdown. We were sour after last week. The comeback shows this team's resilience.”

Both teams played without numerous starters, 16 combined. Armstrong did get quarterback Dawson Porter back in the lineup. He missed the past two games after sustaining a knee injury while lifting weights.

Porter rushed for 128 yards, but also had the deciding fumble in overtime.

Armstrong rushed for 277 yards and got three touchdown runs from quarterback Tanner Stivason. Porter, Stivason and Ryan Pearce each lined up at quarterback during the game.

Porter completed 2 of 4 passes for 44 yards. His 47-yard pass to Isaiah Price set up Stivason's third touchdown, a 1-yard run, and gave Armstrong a 23-16 lead with 3:50 left.

But a personal foul on Franklin Regional's next possession gave the Panthers life and Leopold connected on four of his next five passes, the last going to Blaze O'Block (7 yards) to tie the score at 23-23 with 1:19 left.

“I told my guys that if we were honest with ourselves, we could go back and look at the first half,” Fabian said. “I don't think a game comes down to one play, the first half was just atrocious with the mistakes we made.”

Franklin Regional grabbed a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter when Leopold scored on an 11-yard run. Leopold finished with 58 yards rushing and completed 11 of 21 passes for 136 yards.

Armstrong took an 8-7 lead in the second quarter when Stivason scored from the 2.

Then came a big switch in momentum. A low snap bounced away from DiFalco, who calmly picked up the loose ball and bombed a 43-yard punt. After a 15-yard loss on a bad snap to Pearce, Franklin Regional tackled Porter in the end zone for a safety and a 9-8 lead.

“That kid is an unbelievable soccer player,” Botta said. “He has shin splints and is still playing. That punt was tremendous.”

DiFalco said: “The snap was a yard short, so I had to go get it and kick it. I couldn't let it be blocked.”

The Panthers then grabbed a 16-8 lead when sophomore running back Zach Gordon scored on a 14-yard jaunt.

Following an Armstrong fumble, the Panthers had the ball at the River Hawks' 7. But a third down pass tipped of a Franklin Regional receivers' finger and into the arms of Armstrong's Devon Goodgasell for an interception.

“We had four sophomores starting on the offensive line, a sophomore running back and a quarterback who hadn't played a complete game,” Botta said. “I can't say enough about these guys.

“You can't turn the ball over, and we did it twice in the first half when we had a chance to put 21 points on the board. That catches up to you.”

Stivason's 1-yard run and Porter's two-point conversion tied the score at 16-16 early in the fourth quarter.

Despite looking like a ‘MASH' unit, Franklin Regional found a way to get a needed victory.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Armstrong, Franklin Regional