With 7:07 left in the final quarter, visiting Quince Orchard felt mounting pressure from Northwest.
The Cougars stuck around all evening — and a touchdown moments before made it a one-score game.
With the Jaguars needing just one stop to have a chance at tying the game, Quince Orchard running back Isaiah Blackman-Boyd put the game to rest.
Blackman-Boyd caught a screen over the middle from Nino Marzullo and evaded multiple tackles en route to a 50-yard score.
The crowd-silencing catch-and-run helped the Cougars survive a valiant effort from their long-time rivals, 34-21.
Quince Orchard (7-0) overcame sloppy play and wet conditions, winning its 38th consecutive game.
QO strikes back with a well timed screen from @Nino_Marzullo to Isaiah Blackman-Boyd for about 50 yds
QO 28 – NW14, 7:07 4th pic.twitter.com/EYo49FZKCe— Jud Ashman (@judashman) October 21, 2023
Once Quince Orchard opened the scoring with a 25-yard score to Tavahri “Tick” Groves, Northwest trailed the rest of the night.
Only took three plays for Quince Orchard to take the lead. Nino Marzullo finds Tavahri “Tick” Groves for a 25-yard score.
Quince Orchard up 7-0 with 4 minutes left in the first quarter. pic.twitter.com/wm0u65H8bW
— Ben Strober (@benstrobermedia) October 20, 2023
Quince Orchard running back Iverson Howard’s 18-yard score put the Cougars up 14-0 in the second quarter. The Jaguars’ offense struggled throughout the first half, but a two-yard rush from Northwest’s do-it-all receiver Tony Berry made it 14-7 just before halftime.
Northwest (6-2) became one of only three teams to score on Quince Orchard’s defense this season.
Northwest hasn’t been able to contain Iverson Howard on the outside. Howard just took it in from 18 yards out.
Quince Orchard leads 14-0 after a successful 2-pt try.
10:06 | 2Q pic.twitter.com/XOu4L6Wgmn
— Ben Strober (@benstrobermedia) October 20, 2023
The Cougars opened the second half with a scoring drive, capped off by another Marzullo throw that led Groves to the end zone.
Marzullo finished the game with three touchdown passes.
Northwest would not go away. After forcing Quince Orchard to punt, Berry faked out the defense by delivering a pass to tight end Conner Bunting. The trickery from the Jaguars made it 21-14 midway through the game’s final quarter.
NW scores on this short pass out of the wildcat.
QO 21 – NW 14, 10:44 3rd pic.twitter.com/64mg2lsx4Z— Jud Ashman (@judashman) October 21, 2023
With the game still in the balance, Boyd gave the Cougars a two-score lead with his 50-yard score.
Northwest scored to make it 28-21 with under two minutes in regulation after four Quince Orchard penalties, but Howard scored his second touchdown of the game from 40 yards out, putting the game out of reach.
Not done yet, @IversonHoward2 takes one in from about 40. Blocked PAT
QO 34 – NW 21, 1:47 4th pic.twitter.com/JYyVrRtCNA— Jud Ashman (@judashman) October 21, 2023
Photo by Phil Fabrizio
