John Haubert’s first six carries did not net much during Saturday afternoon’s game at Wilson. It has been that kind of season for the senior and his Palisades teammates.
However, Haubert and the rest of the Pirates were rewarded for their determination.
His 46-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter clinched Palisades’ second win of the year, 28-6. It also kept the Pirates’ District 11 Class 2A playoff hopes alive despite a 2-7 record.
“The seniors have been through losing seasons as freshmen and a winning season since,” Haubert said. “They know what to say when we’re having bad games and when we’re feeling ourselves and winning big. We just focus on being ready for the next play.”
Palisades started its first four drives in Wilson territory, but it took until the third series to cash in. A short punt had the Pirates at the Warriors’ 22-yard line. A fourth-down pass interference penalty and an unsportsmanlike call against Wilson put Palisades at the 5. Two plays later, Jack Trickel had the first of his two touchdown runs for a 7-0 lead.
After a fourth consecutive Wilson punt, Palisades needed only three plays to go 38 yards, the 27 on a Trickel pass to a wide-open Lincoln Cook for a 14-0 lead. The Warriors secondary left the speedy Cook uncovered at the 8:05 mark of the first half.
The Warriors, meanwhile, struggled with penalties. They were whistled for 11 accepted penalties.
The Pirates also produced 12 negative plays for the Warriors’ offense. Angelo Ziccardi had five tackles for loss. Silas Day had two others.
“The whole defense played awesome,” Palisades coach Bobby Smith said. “When we’re doing what is taught during the week, good things happen. I think we had more [negative plays] today than we had all season, so hats off to the defense.”
One play from each team was recognized as the Thomas Poynton 110% Passion Award winner. Haubert, who finished with 128 rushing yards, was the Palisades recipient. Wilson’s Jeramy Cressman, who threw for 147 yards and ran for 59 more and a touchdown, was Wilson’s honoree.
The award is named in memory of Poynton, who died on July 26, 2016. He was a coach, teacher, friend, and mentor at both schools. The teams have honored his memory every year since with awards in his name after each regular-season game.
Wilson pulled within 14-6 at halftime on Cressman’s 1-yard TD run with 3 minutes, 23 seconds left in the second quarter.
Coach Jim Brady’s club then forced a three-and-out and drove into the red zone in the final minute of the half, but three incompletions left them trailing.
The teams punted twice each to start the second half until Palisades put it away in the fourth quarter.
Ashton Fitzgerald’s 34-yard punt return to the Warriors’ 8-yard line set up Trickel’s 2-yard touchdown run with 9:23 left.
After another Wilson punt, Palisades drove 71 yards in three plays for the clinching score. Trickel hit Cook for 21 yards before Haubert had runs of 4 and 46.
“It was just about knowing your assignments, being disciplined and being able to go on two [counts] when Wilson was jumping the count,” Haubert said. “When we started making our blocks, that’s when we started getting our yards.”
Palisades visits Salisbury on Friday with a chance to make the district postseason. It is battling Mahanoy Area (hosts 0-9 Shenandoah Valley) and Catasauqua (at 2-7 Palmerton) for the last two playoff berths.
Wilson (0-9) has lost 30 games in a row, one shy of the area record set by Palisades. The 1999 Pirates ended their losing streak with a victory over Notre Dame-Green Pond, which is who Wilson hosts in next Saturday’s regular-season finale. The Crusaders are 8-1.
PALISADES 28, WILSON 6
Palisades; 7; 7; 0; 14 — 28
Wilson; 0; 6; 0; 0 — 6
ORDER OF SCORING
First quarter
P: Jack Trickel 7 run (Greg Borgeson kick), 0:35
Second quarter
P: Trickel 27 pass to Lincoln Cook (Borgeson kick), 8:05
W: Jeramy Cressman 1 run (kick blocked), 3:23
Fourth quarter
P: Trickel 2 run (Borgeson kick)
P: John Haubert 46 run (Borgeson kick), 5:31
TEAM STATISTICS
Pal; Wil
First downs; 12; 14
Rushes-yards; 30-162; 30-74
Passing yards; 71; 147
Comp-Att-INTs; 8-17-0; 12-27-0
Punts-avg.; 6-37.8; 7-28.8
Fumbles-lost; 1-0; 1-0
Penalties-yards; 7-65; 11-78
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing : (Palisades) John Haubert 16-128, TD; Jack Trickel 10-34, 2 TDs; Ashton Fitzgerald 1-(-2); Greg Borgeson 1-4; Lincoln Cook 1-(-1); team 1-(-1); (Wilson) J’son Johnson 7-(-6); Jeramy Cressman 18-59; Markhi Fields 4-23; Leonard Davis 1-(-2).
Passing : (Palisades) Trickel 8-17-0, 71 yards, TD; (Wilson) Cressman 12-27-0, 147 yards, TD.
Receiving : (Palisades) Cook 2-48, TD; Max Woerner 1-2; Fitzgerald 4-12; Haubert 1-9; (Wilson) Davis 2-9; Johnson 2-21; Christian Samayoa 4-52; Nickenson Louis Jeune 4-65.
Morning Call senior writer Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
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