Practice makes perfect for Jared Zimmerman in Souderton's playoff win over CB South
FRANCONIA — Sometimes all it takes is just one play to turn the tide of a game. Souderton found that out on Friday night in the opening round of the District One Class 6A playoffs.
On the Big Red’s second play of the game, it looked like they called a double handoff inside to Shaun Purvy. But just as Purvy headed into the line, he flipped the ball back to quarterback Jared Zimmerman, who found Danny Dyches wide open on a 62-yard flea flicker down the middle.
Dyches made it to the Central Bucks South 1-yard line and Zimmerman took the ball into the end zone himself a play later for a touchdown. It was the only touchdown of the game and No. 7 seed Souderton went on to beat visiting No. 10 seed Central Bucks South, 10-0.
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The Big Red (9-2) will travel to Graterford next Friday to play No. 2 seed Perkiomen Valley (10-1) in a quarterfinal game. The Vikings beat No. 15 seed Owen J. Roberts, 56-19.
Zimmerman knew that the flea flicker was going to be called on the second play of the game. Souderton practiced it all week with varying degrees of success, but it worked to perfection when it was needed most.
“That was an amazing play,” Zimmerman said. “It was a designed play from Monday. We knew that was in the second play of the game and it just opened up beautifully and it worked amazing. It’s really cool to see it execute like that because we know it’s going to be a big-hitter play and we’re just going to get massive yards and really set up field position for us. It worked every now and then in practice, but it really came to us tonight.”
When studying video of the Titans, Big Red coach Ed Gallagher saw that the play may work against South’s aggressive defense.
“To be honest with you, I knew this was going to be a low-scoring game,” Gallagher said. "And I knew early on that we were going to get them to bite up on something. We had to take a chance early. When it works, you look smart. When it doesn’t, you look stupid. It worked tonight.”
A big reason that the play worked is Zimmerman. The senior led Souderton in rushing with 64 yards on 13 carries and completed 8 of 11 passes for 102 yards.
“Ice water in his veins,” Gallagher said. “I’d go to battle with him any day. I love watching him play. Even when he makes mistakes, he owns it. He gets it. He’s a heck of a football player, a heck of an athlete.”
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Three things we learned:
1. Souderton’s defense bent, but never broke. South’s offense outgained the Big Red in total yards, 318-236, but never found the end zone. The Titans ventured inside Souderton’s 35-yard line three times, but were turned back each time. In the fourth quarter, South got to the Big Red’s 9-yard line, but Nick Esterly’s field goal attempt was blocked. The Titans reached the Souderton 11 during the next drive, but Esterly was wide left on another field goal attempt. Then Ryan Sadowski ended South’s night with an interception at the Big Red 25-yard line.
2. Souderton wasn’t giving up much yardage on the ground, but South’s passing game was pretty effective. Titans’ quarterback Brett Szarko completed 16 of 26 passes for 215 yards. Tommy Donnelly caught 10 of those passes for 137 yards.
3. Ty Quintois came up huge once again for Souderton. The senior kicked a 35-yard field goal with 1 minute, 50 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Big Red a 10-0 lead. That kick gave Souderton a two-score cushion during the critical fourth quarter.
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Game balls:
Souderton linebacker Ryan Sadowski: The Big Red junior had a sack of Szarko in the second quarter and ended the game with an interception of Szarko inside the final minute of the game.
Central Bucks South wide receiver Tommy Donnelly: Souderton had trouble covering the 5-foot-7 senior who caught 10 passes for 137 yards.
Souderton defensive end Evan Zettle: The Big Red junior sacked Szarko twice, once in the first quarter and again in the fourth quarter.
They said it:
“They were just a really good team, a really physical team,” Zimmerman said of South. “We just battled the entire time. It was just as really good game on both sides of the ball.”
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA Bucks Montco High School Football Souderton tops CB South Class 6A
