By Greg Pecko, MNFB.com
August 29, 2008
The Marple Newtown Tigers (0-1) lost their season opener to the Conestoga Pioneers 21-6 on Friday evening. The first quarter of the game was driven by the defensive play from both teams. Neither team was able to advance into each others redzone in the first quarter and the quarter would end in a 0-0 tie.
The second quarter saw the first points put on the board by the Pioneers as they were able to convert off of a Tigers turnover. The Pioneers were able to return an interception to the Tigers redzone and put the ball in the endzone from there with an eight yard touchdown pass.
In the third quarter the Tigers defense struggled to stop the Pioneers tailback Leighton Dennis from moving the ball on the ground. Dennis would score midway through the third quarter on a four yard scamper into the endzone.
The Tigers put their first points of the 2008 campaign on the board around the six minute mark of the fourth quarter to move to within eight points of the Pioneers. Senior tailback Phil Graziano ran the football determined the entire night, broke through to score on a 20-yard touchdown run.
The Pioneers stopped the comeback attempt, scoring with two minutes left in the game on an 8-yard reverse.
The Tigers will now move on to their home opener at Harry Harvey Field next Friday against perrenial Central League power Strath Haven (0-1). Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM, with podcast audio coverage available via TigerCast following the game.