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THREE SPRINGS -- The calendar marked Friday as the day to finally raise the curtain on the new 2025 football season.
A closely-contested battle between the Panthers and Rockets quickly ensued as Southern Huntingdon was sparked by some key defensive stops throughout the contest to flip the script on Northern Bedford and earn a 13-7 victory.
Play of the game: After the Rockets secured the lead in the third quarter, defensive lineman Maverick Huntsman made a key stop on the first play of the final stanza to end Northern Bedford's next possession. He caught quarterback Ben Cottle in a fake punt scenario for a five-yard loss near midfield.
Players of the game: Rockets running backs Aiden Berrier and Drew Flood came through when Southern needed it most in the third quarter. They combined for 42 yards on seven carries during the winners' third period 64-yard march to paydirt. The drive lasted 11 total plays.
Unsung heroes: Rocket defensive personnel including Huntsman, Elijah Oswald, Jase Watkins and the interior of the defensive line all had a hand with big plays to keep Northern Bedford off the scoreboard in the second half.
Most vital statistic: The teams combined for 13, first-half assessed penalties along with some plays with offsetting fouls that stopped both teams from gaining the advantage they needed to get rolling before the break.
Southern Huntingdon coach Fred Foster: "I attribute the win to our red team, our JV guys and others supporting us. Our team worked hard together as one to get us through a great camp. Our kids played hard to the end. They believed and achieved. I am happy for a hard-working group of kids."
Northern Bedford coach Garry Black: "We could not capitalize on our opportunities. We knocked on the door but could not finish tonight. Hats off to Southern Huntingdon for doing what they did. We challenged them (Southern), saying here we come, stop us. They stepped up and made the plays."
Rocket quarterback Cohen Snyder: "We had some hard runners for us tonight and a passing game that came through in the first half. Our defense stepped up in the end."
Notable: Ben Clark led the Panthers with 124 rushing yards. He carried the ball 28 times, over half of his team's 51 plays...The Rockets scored on a 6-yard pass hauled in by Oswald while Aaden Cromwell carried in the game-winner from five yards away. … Southern's second-half scoring drive ate up almost six minutes of the third quarter. ...The first half ended in exciting fashion without a score when Zach Bowers hauled in a Ben Cottle 32-yard pass but was pushed out of bounds at the 3-yard line with just seconds to go in the frame. Cottle's next attempt fell incomplete. ...Northern's final two drives ended inside the red zone stopped by downs at the Rocket 3- and 9-yard lines.
Records: Southern Huntingdon (1-0), Northern Bedford (0-1)
Next week: Both teams are home next week, facing Inter-County Conference cross-over rivals. Northern Bedford hosts Claysburg-Kimmel and Southern Huntingdon welcomes Tussey Mountain.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Northern Bedford 0 7 0 0 — 7
Southern Huntingdon 0 6 7 0 — 13
Second Quarter
NB--Clark 2 run (Berry kick) 10:15
SH--Oswald 6 pass from Snyder (rush failed) 5:20
Third Quarter
SH--Cromwell 5 run (Williams kick) 3:28
TEAM STATISTICS NB SH
First downs 13 10
Total yards 236 149
Rushes-yards 42-161 27-53
Yards passing 75 96
Pass (comp.-att.-int.) 6-9-0 9-14-0
Punts-avg. 3-29 5-31
Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 8-63 7-50
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Northern Bedford, Clark 28-124, Snider 5-32, Donaldson 2-7, Feathers 3-(-1), Cottle 4-(-1). Southern Huntingdon, Flood 7-40, Berrier 10-26, Cromwell 3-15, Whitsel 1-6, AJ Carowick 1-(-10), Snyder 5-(-24).
PASSING--Northern Bedford, Cottle 6-12-0-76. Southern Huntingdon, Snyder 9-14-0-96.
RECEIVING-- Northern Bedford, Bowers 3-45, Clark 1-23, Donaldson1-6, Snider 1-1. Southern Huntingdon, Watkins 2-30, Oswald 3-29, Whitsel 1-17, Berrier 1-8, Cromwell 1-7, Carowick 1-5.