2002 In Review

Week 10

Friday November 5, 2004

Mid Penn Colonial Championship

Versus West Perry High School

Champions

"How many times in recent memory have we watched other teams celebrate their championship on our field?"

(Northern Head Coach, Rick Mauck)

NOT TONIGHT!

The Polar Bears exploded for 52 points sending West Perry back to Perry County without a share of the Championship and without a playoff berth. Northern guarded their share like a pack of wild dogs. They would not be denied. Every time the Mustangs got close, the Bears would score again. Using the whole field, Northern turned passes, runs, interceptions, and punt returns into points. They collectively stood as one and denied their opponents any opportunity of taking any part of their championship crown.

West Perry won the coin toss and made their first mistake of the evening by electing to defer to the Polar Bears. After the opening kickoff return, Northern got right to business with a first drive included a hammering 54 yard run by fullback, Mike Romagnoli. Brother Drew took it into the end zone from 2 yards out and the Bears led 7-0. On West Perry's opening drive, Sophomore Chad Halterman stripped Moosa's little brother, Ibrahim Smith, of the football and the Bears took over at the Mustang 30. The Bears scored again when Colby Betz hit Craig Moose and Craig pounded down the home sideline for 32 yards to the chants of "Moooooose", coming from the stands. At the start of the 2nd quarter, Colby called his own number and behind a crushing surge of offensive lineman, he scored from 2 yards out. The 19-0 lead was cut, however, to 19-7 when Trey Little found fellow Mustang, Kevin Kindig for 54 yards and a score. The Little-Kindig combination was effective all night long but it was not enough. Drew Romagnoli, who had 4 TD's on the night, put the score at 25-7 after a 29 yard TD run. But, West Perry closed the gap when Little hit Ben Snyder for a score. At the half, the Polar Bears led the Mustangs 25-14.

The second half showed why West Perry came into the game with an 8-1 record. Gathering momentum, the Mustangs capped off a drive with Smith going in from the 5 yard line. The game was then tightened to 25-21 but, every time the momentum seemed to shift to West Perry, Northern would take control. Late in the third quarter leading 25-21, Northern's Mike Romagnoli broke a 49 yard run on a third and long taking the ball to the Mustang 8. Mike would score on the next play and Northern opened up a 10 point lead 31-21. Amazingly, Mike was thought to be seriously hurt in the first quarter when a Mustang helmet drove deep into his hand. The injury caused a severe bruise and blood blister that looked to be the size of a plum sitting on his hand. During the game, Mike told me that when it first happened, he thought, "That's the end of my season." Not only was it not the end of his season, it wasn't even the end of his night. He sat out the rest of the 1st half but in the 3rd quarter, when his teammates really needed him, Mike re-entered the game sporting a heavily padded bandage on his injured hand. It was not a liability as he continued his pounding rushing of the football. Mike finished the night with 171 yards on 17 carries.

The back-breaker for West Perry came in the 4th quarter when Northern forced the Mustangs to punt. Drew Romagnoli fielded the ball at his own 15 and began his trademark breaking of tackles en-route to an 85 yard touchdown return. Kindig would score again, however, on a Trey Little pass but it was just too late. With Northern leading 45-28 after yet another Drew Romagnoli touchdown, Little was picked off by Dane Eichelberger who raced 76 yards for the score.

Game Over!

The victory gave the Northern Polar Bears the outright Mid-Penn Colonial Championship and the #2 seed in the District 3 AAA, playoffs. They will start the playoffs at home next Friday at Bostic against Daniel Boone from the Berks Inter-County Conference, Section 2. The playoffs will be exciting. Congratulations to both teams on fine seasons.