2002 In Review

Week 1

Friday September 3, 2004

Versus

Bermudian Springs High School

WOW!

What a way to start the season. On an absolutely perfect night for football, the Polar Bears took the field at BSHS Stadium in York Springs to begin the 2004 campaign. This game was intriguing for a host of reasons.

In the history between these two schools, some 70 games were played with only 4 points separating the Polar Bears and the Eagles. Last season, upstart Bermudian knocked off Northern at Bostic Stadium in a shocker 12-6. The Eagles went on to find themselves with a terrific season led by Junior Quarterback Jon Hade. The Bears also finished strong losing the Conference Championship game to Big Spring in a heartbreaker on the final game of the season. With 10 returning starters, Bermudian Springs was ranked #9 in the PIAA, "AA" State rankings. The Bears young team came in a 5-point underdog in a season opener which would set the tone for a Northern team that has only ten Seniors on its roster.

They would not leave an underdog.

The Bears won the toss and elected to receive. The end over end kick came down to Scottie Davies who, like a lightning bolt, flashed up the sideline for 86 yards finding the end zone 9 seconds into the game. Leading 7-0, the Bears' defense held forcing the Eagles to punt. Drew Romagnoli signaled for a fair catch and Northern set up shop on their own 8-yard line. On the Bears' first offensive play of the season, QB Eric Baker hit WR Drew Romagnoli in the flat. Senior WR Ryan Shaw made a fantastic block and Drew was gone. He raced 92 yards for the touchdown and the Bears took a 14 point lead. That lead would not hold as the impressive Jon Hade ran, threw, and even caught passes ultimately tying the game at 14. The tie would hold late into the 2nd quarter when Mike Romagnoli went in from the 3-yard line. A missed extra point left the Bears with a tenuous 20-14 lead with 1:15 left in the half. The lead would not hold as Bermudian covered the field ending the half with a Jon Hade 35-yard touchdown pass giving the Eagles 21-20 lead.

The Bears took complete control of the 2nd half dominating on both sides of the ball. Senior WR, Ryan Shaw took an end around 11 yards for Northern's next score on a great call by Head Coach Rick Mauck. Eric Baker hit Drew Romagnoli in the end zone for the 2 point conversion and Northern jumped out to a 28-21 lead. The go-ahead touchdown would be all that the Bears needed as Coach Wise's defense held Bermudian without a first down in the 2nd half. Northern, however, would continue scoring with the Romagnoli brothers each adding another touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, Craig Moose, Brandon Adams, Sammy Bender, and Shawn McGeehan put amazing pressure on the Bermudian backfield virtually living on the Eagles side of the ball in the second half. The unsung hero of the game may well be Senior Center, Jason Sheffer who played both sides of the ball quietly establishing himself as one of the best lineman in the Mid-Penn Colonial Conference.