Just before he sent his Petrides Panthers into Sunday’s PSAL A Conference semifinal matchup with August Martin, head coach Dave Olah shared what he thought would be the key to a victory.
“We’re going to have to hit a few big plays,” he said. “Whether it’s a big catch, or we pop a run, it’s going to be something like that.”
The undefeated Panthers (10-0), seeded first in the postseason, didn’t let their coach down; turning in big plays on both sides of the ball in a convincing 27-16 win that sent them Saturday’s championship game for the first time since 2019. They will face No. 2 seed Springfield Gardens at Curtis at 3 p.m. Springfield beat No. 3 Transit Tech, 18-0, Sunday in the other semifinal.
Petrides got off to a fast start, taking the opening kickoff at their own 47 after a 25-yard return by Ray Pecorale. On the drive, QB Jaiden Rivera connected with Justin Alvarez for a big first down and then found the senior receiver in the end zone from 30 yards out to put the Panthers up 6-0. It was the beginning of a long day for the August Martin secondary, as Rivera and Alvarez were reading the defense from the same book.
“The defensive back was giving me inside leverage,” said Alvarez. “I had an outside release every time and it was open.”
Rivera agreed.
“The receiver knows when there are seven in the box, the corner route is going to be open,” he said. “It was open every time and I just gave him the ball.”
The Falcons responded immediately, with running back Corey Wallace dashing 37 yards to knot the contest at 6-6.
Neither team was able to gain a first down on their next possessions. August Martin punted and seemed to have pinned Petrides inside its own 30 until the Panthers’ Jahshea McKinney stepped in.
With both sides expecting the ball to be downed by the Falcons, McKinney took August Martin and even some of his teammates and coaches by surprise, scooping the bouncing ball off the turf and racing past the defense for a 71-yard…
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