Pennsville scores three quick touchdowns in the second half to beat Gateway, 23-7
By Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – It’s amazing how the script can flip when a team cuts out its mistakes and starts building a little momentum.
Pennsville got off to a balky start Friday night, but wiped the cobwebs and scored three touchdowns in a 3 minutes, 30 second stretch over the third and fourth quarters to beat Gateway 23-7.
“We were moving the ball in the first half up and down the field, but we weren’t able to finish on drives,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “But we were able to refocus and get done what we needed to get done and come out with the win. It feels great to get and happy for the kids.”
The Eagles were beset with missed blocks, dropped passes and penalties in the first half and trailed 7-0 at halftime. They finally broke through on Robbie McDade’s 11-yard run with 1:30 left in the third quarter and took the lead on Sky Eppes’ two-point conversion run.
They got the ball back when Conner Ayers recovered a fumble on the first play after a touchback on the ensuing kickoff and Eppes extended the Eagles’ lead on a 10-yard run and conversion with seven seconds left in the quarter.
They made it 23-3 less than two minutes into the fourth when Eppes ran it in from the 4 and Jackson Leino kicked the extra point.
“In the second half we settled down,” Healy said. “The kids did a great job doing their jobs and doing what needed to be done. I think that’s what we’re capable of doing. It made me real happy to see the team in the second half come back out, correct the mistakes and do what we’re supposed to do.
“At halftime it was more about fixing the little things that were stopping us from being successful offensively and we managed to get that done. The score shows for itself that when we take care of our mistakes, we’re able to score points and defensively we’re able to stop people.”
Eppes rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. McDade rushed for 62 yards and was 8-of-22 passing for 109 yards. Malik Rehmer caught five passes for 87 yards. Ayers led the defense with seven total tackles.
The win snapped a six-game WJFL division losing streak for Pennsville. It’s the earliest the Eagles have earned their second victory of the season since starting 2-0 in 2020.
Pennsville 23, Gateway 7
| Gateway (1-2) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 – | 7 |
| Pennsville (2-1) | 0 | 0 | 16 | 7 – | 23 |
Scoring plays
G – Aiden Bender 14 pass from Sean Simmons (PAT kick), 1:41 1Q
P – Robbie McDade 11 run (Sky Eppes run), 1:30 3Q
P – Sky Eppes 10 run (Sky Eppes run), 0:07 3Q
P – Sky Eppes 4 run (Jackson Leino kick), 10:01 4Q
Cover photo by Lorraine Jenkins
Riverview Sports News 