Marple Newtown Rides Big Offensive Plays to Win

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Friday night at Harry R. Harvey Field, got touchdowns from four different players and kept explosive Radnor halfback Tajee Bryant in check to claim the 27-13 win.

1

2

3

4

Final

Marple Newtown

7

7

13

0

27

Radnor

7

0

0

6

13

IN SHORT

A night after the Flyers allowed nine goals in a home loss, another local team that also wears orange and black had a better go of things.

Despite falling behind 7-0 after Radnor fullback TJ Hines finished a lengthy drive by plowing in from short yardage, Marple Newtown got touchdowns from Jamie Ridinger, , , and Nick Ciarrocchi to cruise to the 27-13 win.

The shorthanded Raiders—one assistant coach admitted they dressed only 31 players for the contest—played the Tigers to a tie for the first 20 minutes of Friday's action, but gave up a 29-yard touchdown strike from Ridinger to Pham in the waning minutes of the second half and seemed to lose their footing from that point on.

In the first drive after the break, Moat scored, untouched, from 55-yards out to advance the Tigers' lead to 21-7. Then after the game entered a brief holding pattern, the Tigers struck again: this time in the form of a 51-yard touchdown pass from Ridinger to Ciarrocchi.

Ridinger completed two passes on the evening. Both went for touchdowns.

Radnor, after the series of gut punches they took in the second and third quarters, composed themselves and made a late run. Quarterback Mike Koerick found Tim Wilson in the back of the end zone for a 22-yard score to cut the deficit to 27-13—both kickers missed PATs. But on the subsequent drive, Koernick went for the end zone again, instead finding Ciarrocchi, who hung on for the interception and, for all intents and purposes, the win.

TIGER OF THE GAME

Nick Ciarrocchi—The receiver/safety was all over the field for the Tigers, but closed especially strong. His 51-yard touchdown gave Marple Newtown their final points of the game, and his interception of Koernick slammed the door shut on the Raiders' late rally.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Jamie Ridinger—The quarterback, who was praised by his coach after the game for his game management skills, provided big plays as well. He connected with his receivers on scoring strikes of 29 and 51 yards.

Joey Pham—Pham caught the go-ahead touchdown for the Tigers, but late in the fourth quarter with the outcome decided, allowed an insult-to-injury touchdown to bounce off his hands and onto the turf.

COACH'S TAKE

"We like to throw it, we just like to complete 'em."—Tiger head coach Ray Gionta, on his team's uncharacteristic success throwing the ball.

THEY SAID IT

"We had some injuries and guys stepped up."—Gionta, on his team responding despite missing starters on the offensive line and elsewhere

UP NEXT—The Tigers travel to Springfield (Delco) on Nov. 4 for a 7 p.m. matchup.