C-H tops Northgate for conference victory
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Chartiers-Houston's Wyatt Kincaid (17) throws a key block on Northgate's Romello Snyder (3) to free AJ Meyers (1) to score a touchdown in the 2nd quarter at Chartiers-Houston High School field Friday night.
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Northgate's Surron Adams (33) tries to bring down Chartiers-Houston's Alec Ferrari (5) deep in his own backfield but Ferrari scampered clear and broke for a big gain late in the 2nd quarter at Chartiers-Houston High School field Friday night.
Jim McNutt/Observer-Reporter Northgate's Romello Snyder (3) is pulled down by Chartiers-Houston's Spencer Terling (32) and a host of ther Bucs early in the first quarter at Chartiers-Houston High School field Friday night.
HOUSTON – Terry Fetsko is still a young man, but the Chartiers-Houston head football coach might be aging more and more each week.
For the second straight game, the Bucs’ game wasn’t decided until the final minute. And just like last week, Chartiers-Houston found a way to earn the victory.
Fullback Dylan Briggs, who previously had four carries all season, scored from two yards out with 42 seconds left to break a 13-13 tie, and Chartiers-Houston edged visiting Northgate, 19-13, to earn its first WPIAL Class A Black Hills Conference win Friday night.
“Two weeks in a row down to the last play,” said Fetsko. “We never panicked, and we were able to execute and make plays down at the end to win the game. It’s nice to come out on top in those games.”
One reason Briggs ended up with the winning touchdown was because workhorse Spencer Terling came up injured after a four-yard run on first and goal from the 6 and needed to leave the game. Quarterback Alec Ferrari already picked up 95 yards on the ground, but the ball went to Briggs, and the junior powered his way in for the winning score.
“I was thinking I wasn’t going to let the ball go,” said Briggs. “I was going to run as hard as I could and get it in for the team and the win.”
Of course, Briggs’ heroics might not have happened if not for Ethan Shober, whose 35-yard punt return after a key defensive stand set up Chartiers-Houston (1-2, 2-2) in the first-and-goal situation. The Bucs offense stagnated in the second half, and Shober’s return provided the necessary spark.
It also came on the heels of the Bucs defense pushing Northgate (0-3, 1-3) back after a turnover when Chartiers-Houston looked like it had the game won a couple minutes earlier.
But Ferrari fumbled as he was approaching the goal line, giving the ball to the Flames, who had erased a 13-0 halftime deficit with their first two possessions of the second half.
“Ethan’s return was the biggest play of the game for us,” Fetsko said. “The fumble is just part of the game. I knew they’d be pinned down, so we needed the defense to make a big stop, which they did.”
The Bucs defense got back to its stifling ways when needed in the fourth quarter. Rodney Burrow returned a punt 61 yards to set up Northgate at the Bucs 34 in a tied game, but Chartiers-Houston pushed the Flames back and forced a punt. Each Northgate possession in the fourth quarter was a three-and-out.
That is, until Austin Warchol intercepted Johnny Camello with 7 seconds left to clinch the important conference victory.
“We approached this as a must-win game,” said Fetsko. “It doesn’t eliminate you if you lose another one, but it makes it an uphill climb.”
Terling finished with 84 yards on 22 carries. Briggs’ touchdown run was his only touch of the game. Ferrari completed 8 of 12 passes for 99 yards and touchdowns to Wyatt Kincaid and A.J. Myers.