Valcin helps Polytech rally for season-opening win

SALISBURY, Md. — It wasn’t easy but Polytech High’s football team found a way to keep winning on Friday night.

Kenny Valcin’s eight-yard touchdown run with three minutes left gave the Panthers a 23-19 victory over J.M. Bennett in a non-conference matchup.

Vicon also added the two-point conversion for Polytech, which was playing its season opener. The Panthers are coming off a 10-2 season in which they set a school record for victories and reached the DIAA Class 1A state tournament for the first time.

Bennett had the ball over midfield on its final possession but Polytech made a fourth-down stop with 41 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Valcin ran for 116 yards and a pair of TDs on 19 carries. The senior also scored on a two-yard run in the first quarter.

As a linebacker on defense, Valcin finished with 10 tackles in the contest.
After jumping out to a 9-0 first-quarter lead, Polytech trailed 13-9 going into the fourth quarter.

The Panthers took back the lead when Simon Balcerak caught a 27-yard scoring pass from his brother, quarterback Isaac Balcerak.

Bennett went back in front 19-15 on a touchdown run to set the stage for Valcin’s game-winning TD.

Isaac Balcerak completed 14-of-24 passes for 159 yards while also running four times for 30 yards.

Six different Polytech receivers caught passes, led by sophomore Aven Diamond with 71 yards on three receptions. Diamond also recovered a fumble on defense.

Simon Balcerak had five catches for 30 yards.

Standout running back Noah Walker, who underwent knee surgery after being injured in Polytech’s season finale last fall, ran for 42 yards on 15 carries and caught a 10-yard pass.

Senior Elijah Benton was in on 11 tackles for the Panthers while Israel Russell was in on nine stops and recorded a first-quarter safety.

The Panthers play at Wilmington Charter next Saturday at 11 a.m. Polytech split two games with the Force a year ago, falling to Charter, 10-0, in the DIAA Class 1A state semifinals.