By: Kyle Moylan
The Allentown defense got to Stephen Panasuk. They just didn’t get to him.
Panasuk, at 6-4, 215 pounds, isn’t exactly fragile. So despite being sacked three times early in the game (one time each by Kyle Nieliwocki, Alec Azzarello and Ryan Walker), Panasuk just got back up and led the New Egypt High football team to a 23-13 win in a state consolation game last Friday night at Allentown.
"I’m a calm guy and I love the contact," Panasuk said. "Those hits don’t bother me."
Even so, New Egypt had to find a way to keep Allentown from sacking Panasuk before it could find a way to win.
"We noticed they were blitzing the two middle linebackers and the defensive backs were deep," Panasuk said. "We knew we could get them with the under routes."
After a 5-yard touchdown run by Robert Guiliano, Allentown led 7-3 in the second quarter. A penalty and the third sack of Panasuk had New Egypt facing a third-and-19 from its own 11 when Panasuk connected with Dylan Rowley on a slant route over the middle. The play went for 54 yards.
"Those situations don’t bother me," Panasuk said. "I wasn’t thinking about getting a few yards and punting, I wanted to get all of it."
Panasuk finished off what ended up being a 95-yard, 12-play drive by keeping the ball on a quarterback sneak for a 5-yard touchdown run.
This score gave New Egypt a 10-7 lead at the half. Staying mostly in the air in the third quarter, New Egypt quickly added to its advantage.
Panasuk completed two passes to Cody Shields, one to T.J. Smith and then a 25-yard scoring strike to Brandon Bunce with 9:12 to play in the third quarter.
Unfortunately for Allentown, a fumble put the ball right back into the very hot hands of Panasuk. Taking over at the Allentown 41, Panasuk did complete a 14-yard pass to Shields. For the most part, however, Panasuk used his passing prowess as a decoy on this eight-play, 41-yard scoring drive. Panasuk carried the ball four times for 20 yards on the drive, including the final five.
Now down 23-7, two big plays seemed to have Allentown in position to slice a chunk out of its deficit. For starters, Doug Tisce returned the kickoff to the Allentown 45. Then even after Allentown got pushed back to the 34, Greg Amatrudo pulled in a pass from Justin Darlea for 52 yards on a third-and-21.
Allentown got as far as the New Egypt 8, but an interception by New Egypt’s Davion Clanton stopped the drive.
"I like the way we were moving the ball," Allentown Coach Bob Mussari said. "We were picking up a lot of passing yards. Our kids did a good job. I was proud of them."
Allentown was just hurt by three turnovers. New Egypt was hurt by 145 yards in penalties, but it was able to replace those yards. Allentown was only able to replace one of its turnovers.
A fourth-quarter interception by Greg Amatrudo gave Allentown the ball at the New Egypt 15. It capped a great overall night for Amatrudo, who also ran the ball twice for 39 yards and pulled in three passes for 105 yards.
Allentown scored on a 4-yard run by Jared Murawski with 3:11 to play. A two-point conversion failed, as did an ensuing onsides kick try.
Allentown still had some timeouts left, but Panasuk made that a moot point with his running, picking up the first downs needed to run out the clock. Panasuk finished with 26 carries for 154 yards. He also completed 11 of 18 passes for 215 yards.
"We just want to finish strong and keep the program strong," Panasuk said. "We still have a chance to go .500 on the field."
New Egypt is 3-6 because it had to forfeit an opening win to Maple Shade. The forfeit was followed by four straight losses on the field. Since then, New Egypt has won three out of four games. Much like its quarterback this past Friday night, it took some early hits and got back up. On Thanksgiving New Egypt and get back to .500 "on the field" hen it faces Bordentown at home in a 10:30 a.m. start.
"I know it goes down as a loss, but the guys on the team think of the Maple Shade game as a win," Panasuk said. "One more win and a record of .500 on the field is important to us. We want to keep this program going in the right direction."
NOTES:Allentown, now 0-9, will complete its season this Saturday when it hosts West Windsor North in a 11 a.m. start.

