*Featured Photo by Kim Supko Photography
Doylestown, PA — Pennridge and Central Bucks West clashed at historic War Memorial Field last night, with the Bucks emerging victorious, defeating the previously unbeaten Rams 28-14 behind a stout defensive performance. The game was a tale of two halves, with both teams showcasing resilience and grit.
The first quarter was a feeling-out process, with both squads probing for weaknesses. Each defense embodied the “bend but don’t break” mentality, exchanging possessions and limiting big plays. The scoreboard remained quiet until the second quarter, when Pennridge struck first. With 7:18 remaining in the half, Princeton commit Ryan Rowe took a pitch 5 yards for the score, followed by a Luis Nunez PAT to make it 7-0. Central Bucks West responded with 2:20 left, as Nick Miletto powered 8 yards for a touchdown. Mason Darrows’ PAT tied the game at 7-7. Not to be outdone, Pennridge’s Noah Keating marched his team downfield, connecting with Nate Derstine on a 16-yard touchdown pass with just 46 seconds left in the half. The Rams headed into the locker room leading 14-7.
The Bucks came out transformed in the second half, displaying sharper focus and execution. With 7:33 left in the third quarter, Nick Miletto barreled through for a 6-yard touchdown, and Mason Darrows’ PAT knotted the score at 14-14. The teams traded possessions, but West maintained momentum. With 54 seconds remaining in the third, junior quarterback Joshua George dove into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, followed by another Darrows PAT, giving the Bucks a 21-14 lead.
The fourth quarter saw both teams move the ball but struggle to score. A pivotal moment came when Pennridge blocked a Central Bucks West field goal attempt. However, Mason Darrows scooped up the loose ball, followed a blocker, made a defender miss, and gained a first down to extend the drive.
Reflecting on the play, Darrows said, “I was on the sideline moving everyone, I was getting my kicks off in the net, getting myself mentally ready, cause I knew if I went out there, I had to make this field goal. I set, it gets blocked, I see the ball rolling on the ground, and nobody is going for it, I pick it up, see the open field, and I make one guy miss and pick up the first down, all glory to my team there, I got a lead blocker in front of me and it helped me pick up more.” He emphasized the teamwork behind the play, noting he couldn’t have done it without his teammates.
Head Coach Rob Rowan provided insight into the blocked kick, saying, “Well, number one, we were going back and forth on a couple of things, you know, maybe try and draw them offside, I have so much confidence in our field goal team, it’s like, hey, let’s do what we do and execute. We knew they were going to come after it hard. We discussed it all week; we saw it in film study - they take no plays off. They did a great job. I got to go back and check the film and see where the leakage was, but we do practice those situations, so we are aware where the ball lands, and if it lands behind the line of scrimmage, it’s a live football, and Mason made an unbelievable headsy play. For him to not only make a guy miss but also pick up a first down, it’s obviously a game-changing play and in a lot of ways a season-changing play.”
The extended drive proved crucial, as Luie Cipollo capped it with a pitch around the end, trucking his way into the end zone with 2:51 left in the game. Darrows’ PAT sealed the 28-14 final score.
CDS Wealth Player (s) of the Game
For their efforts, Joshua George, Nick Miletto, and Mason Darrows took home CDS Wealth Player's of the Game.
After the game, Joshua George shared his elation about defeating the unbeaten Rams: “It feels great, man, we worked so hard at practice, we watched film, and we were just ready to go every single play.” On the key to their success, he added, “I feel like the biggest key was discipline, everyone had to have discipline, we made sure every single play we did our job, make sure everything was moving well, and we came out with a win.”
Nick Miletto echoed George’s enthusiasm, saying, “It feels amazing, like Josh said, we worked all week for this, we worked on our keys, we worked on our assignments, and we were locked in since the start of the week.” He highlighted the team’s preparation: “We had the energy every practice, we had a chip on our shoulder, and we won.” Looking toward the playoffs with two games remaining, Miletto emphasized focus: “It’s one game at a time, every week we’ve got to bring the energy, we gotta be disciplined, and keep playing C.B. West football.”
Coach Rowan expressed immense pride in his team’s performance: “Proud, just really, really proud of our guys. We’ve been through a lot this year. They’re just so resilient, and we’ve come together.” He noted a turning point in the game, saying, “I kept telling them, when you guys come together and figure it out and the light bulb goes off, something special is going to happen, and that second half of football was different than anything we’ve seen this year and I think the light bulb went off. I’m just so proud of their continuous effort, their willingness to be coached, and the way they keep fighting and getting better.”
Central Bucks West’s disciplined and resilient performance, capped by critical plays like Darrows’ heads-up recovery, secured a statement win as they head into the final stretch of the season with momentum.
Up Next:
Pennridge (7-1, 4-1) hosts C.B. East (5-3, 2-3) at Helman Field
C.B. West (6-2, 4-1) travels to North Penn (5-2, 2-2) beautiful Crawford Stadium.