Waiting and hoping

Pennsville had a chance to likely lock up a Group I playoff berth, but lost to Pitman 35-14 and now holds its breath awaiting the final UPR numbers Saturday

ROYAL DIVISION GAMES
Pitman 35, Pennsville 14
Gateway vs. Lower Cape May, Sat.
Clayton 40, Cumberland 14

By Al Muskewitz
Riverivew Sports News

PITMAN – Pennsville had its post-season map all laid out in front of it. All the Eagles had to do was follow the signs.

A win would have set them up well for a Group I playoff berth. But now, after losing to Pitman 35-14 in their final regular-season game, they’re holding their collective breath hoping for some good news Saturday afternoon.

“We had a ton of mistakes today and they definitely capitalized on them,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “We turned the ball over, they didn’t turn the ball over. They made big plays when needed and we really didn’t. We struggled across the board.

“To have an opportunity like this where we really kind of control our own future and not take advantage of it is disappointing and frustrating.”

It started out well. The Eagles (4-4) got a stop on the opening possession and then scored within a minute of getting the ball for the first time, but it was a struggle from there.

Pitman quarterback Kyle Kubat threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter – two in the final 90 seconds – and four in the game to put the Eagles in catch-up mode the rest of the night.

Quarterback Robbie McDade scored both of Pennsville’s touchdowns, on runs of 10 and 7 yards. He was the Eagles’ leading rusher with 83 yards, most of it coming on a 46-yard run. He also passed for 111 yards, but was intercepted three times.

“This is one of the hardest losses I’ve ever had a coach, for sure,” Healy said. “It’s tough to look at it from a wider perspective right now. Obviously, this year we accomplished a lot stuff we wanted to, but to work all season to try and get in the playoffs and now possibly lose it because we played bad, it’s tough.”

The Eagles came into the game holding the 16th and final qualifying spot for the South Jersey Group I playoffs and a four-point lead over his closest pursuer. 

If the Eagles don’t make the 16-team sectional playoff field, they will play in the consolation tournament next week.

“I did go back and talk to them during the bus ride,” Healy said. “I said one way or another we’re playing next week and whether it’s in the playoffs or the consolation tournament we need to be ready to go.

“Whatever happens we want to finish the season correctly. We’re on a two-game slide right now and if it’s playoffs we want to go out there and give our best performance or if it’s the other thing we just want to play good football and finish the season on a high note.”

Pitman 35, Pennsville 14

Pennsville (4-4)	7	0	0	7 –	14
Pitman (3-4)	0	21	7	7 –	35

Scoring plays:
Pe – Robbie McDade 10 run (Jackson Leino kick), 9:14 1Q
Pi – Porter Kostiuk 5 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 11:48 2Q
Pi – Stephen Devanney 20 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 1:28 2Q
Pi – Trey Tinges 10 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 0:01 2Q
Pi – Chris Wyllie 2 run (PAT kick), 4:00 3Q
Pe – Robbie McDade 7 run (Jackson Leino kick), 11:53 4Q
Pi – Stephen Devanney 5 pass from Kyle Kubat (PAT kick), 7:35 4Q