Keystone Oaks KOs Quaker Valley 27-20

Despite a tough fight at Friday night’s game on the road, had a night of missed opportunities against the Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles and took home its second loss of the season.  

“We have to learn how to win. We have to learn how to take advantage of situations,” said Quaker head coach John Tortorea. “We need to learn how to capitalize on these specific types of situations when they present themselves.”

Keystone Oaks knew that winning Friday night’s game against  was crucial. The Golden Eagles were looking for their first home win of the season, and their first conference victory. QV also knew this game was important if it was to have two wins rather than two losses in the season's start. Overcoming some late game obstacles against QV, the Golden Eagles ultimately prevailed.

“We just need to learn how to finish — we seem to start fast and then whether it’s a lack of experience or thinking, ‘Oh this will be easy,’ we need to realize it’s never easy,” KO head coach Nick Kamberis said. 

Almost instantly in the first quarter the Golden Eagles senior captain Cody Alward scored a nearly flawless 76-yard touchdown 17 seconds into the game. Shortly after, Quaker Valley quarterback Brian Moser threw a pick right into the hands of junior captain Cory Sevacko, which he turned into a 17-yard Keystone Oaks gain.

After struggling in the red zone to capitalize on the interception, Dom Canello made a 20-yard field goal to up the score 10 to 0, leaving 7:22 still left in the first quarter. 

Another Quaker Valley interception was thrown during the next offensive drive. This time, the Golden Eagles could not come up with any answers. When the Quakers offense gained possession of the ball back with just shy of four minutes left in the first, they started to get into their groove. 

Then the tables began to turn again. Wilson Perez, a Golden Eagle senior, became explosive on both sides of the field for the remainder of the half, notably nabbing the team’s first first down of the . Freshman Aaron Cunningham scored a 3-yard touchdown after Quaker Valley made several attempts to break through the Golden Eagles' D-line.

At the half, the teams each had five first downs apiece, with a score of 17-7 Keystone Oaks. The Quakers were beginning to capitalize on the game when KO quarterback Matt Buckley threw two touchdowns as well as two interceptions to QV.  All 77 Quaker yards were on the ground, and 36 of them belonged to Perez. KO had 4 of 9 for 184 yards.

The second half got off to a slow start as Quaker Valley struggled to surpass midfield after a 15-yard return by senior Jordan Vescio. Vescio later added to his highlight reel by scoring two of the team’s touchdowns, one of which came from a fumble recovered by David Flewelling.

With the extra point intact, the score was now 17-14, with Quaker Valley fighting to take the lead.

Keystone Oaks experienced two 5-yard penalties and two incomplete passes, leaving them stranded at midfield and forced to punt.

Another short Quaker drive forced kicker Nelson  to punt, but the 18-yard punt was muffed by Vescio, granting the Quakers control of the ball. The Golden Eagles defense used this as a chance to get aggressive and stopped the Quakers.

“The old motto is defense wins championships, but we’re looking for our kids to play hard on both sides of the field,” Kamberis said.

Although KO wasn’t able to go all the way on the next drive, Keystone Oaks rounded out the third quarter with a field goal setting them ahead 20-14.

The fourth quarter opened with Cunningham buzzing through holes in the Golden Eagles special teams for a 27-yard run back to midfield. Following a fumble recovered by Vescio, Moser completed a perfect 23-yard pass to Vescio to tie the game at 20. A 15-yard celebration penalty was awarded, and the 35-yard extra point was no good. 

Keystone Oaks’ Mark McCann took the ball an impressive 61 yards to the Quaker 36-yard line, which led to the final score of the game — a diving catch in the end zone made by Sevacko. With the extra point good the score was now 27-20.

The Quakers were held for one last drive after a tumultuous game of ups and downs.