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 Northwest Giants: 0 - Central Penn Piranha: 28 |
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Score: |
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Northwest Giants vs |
0 |
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Central Penn Piranha |
28 |
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Game Played 9/26/2009 8:00PM
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Piranha Shutout Giants
A late edition to the Central Penn Piranha football schedule carried with it huge implications. The Piranha (10-0) needed to win one more game in order to secure the #1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. However, their opponent was a team with a championship pedigree. The Northwest Giants are the defending champions of the Big Northeast Football Federation (BNEFF), and have claimed numerous championships over the past twenty years. This game would prove to be a good challenge on the road for the Piranha.
Precipitation was in the weather forecast, and Mother Nature delivered a very rainy environment for this epic showdown. The entire game was blanketed by a steady rain, which made for a muddy field, and a slow track for both teams. However, the Piranha were able to find a way to produce a very effective ground game.
The Piranha started with a bang. After forcing a three-and-out, Piranha return man Darren Echols was ready to receive the Giants' punt. Echols cleanly fielded the punt, and was off to the races. The Piranha rookie followed his blocks and motored down the field 72 yards for an apparent score. A penalty at the 10-yardline negated the touchdown. A few plays later, running back Ali Johnson scored on a 9-yard run. The scoring drive was extended when the Giants were flagged for a roughing the kicker penalty on a missed field goal.
The Piranha continued their ground assault when Johnson scored on a 4-yard run on the final play of the first quarter, staking the Piranha to a 14-0 lead.
Midway through the third quarter, the Piranha put the game away for good. Ali Johnson completed the "Hat Trick" when he scored on an impressive 58-yard touchdown run. Johnson broke a couple of tackles, and then raced down the sideline past Giant defenders. "The Jet" finished the game with 147 yards rushing on only 16 carries (9.2 avg.), and scored 3 touchdowns.
Quarterback Jeremy Ricker hooked-up with tight end Randy Hanson on a 9-yard touchdown pass at the end of the third quarter to complete the game's scoring. Despite the tough opposition and battling the elements, the Piranha were able to walk away with a hard-fought 28-0 victory.
There was a lot of symmetry in the scoring times of the Piranha. They scored midway through the first quarter (7:52) and third quarter (7:28), and they also scored with no time remaining in the first quarter and third quarter.
Central Penn finished the game having the edge on the stat sheet: Rushing - CPP 244, NW 40; Passing - CPP 102, NW 23. Penalties were non-existent (CPP 4, NW 3), as both teams kept the game clean. The Piranha dominated the first down category 15-2.
Hopefully this inaugural game will be the beginning of a yearly series between the Piranha and Giants, with next year's game taking place in Harrisburg.
In addition to claiming the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Piranha secured the top overall seed for the upcoming NAFL Playoffs. The Piranha will have a first round BYE, and will take the field on October 10th when they host the winner of the game between the Chambersburg Cardinals (6-4) and DC Explosion (5-5).
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