Pennridge takes CB West in battle of unbeaten football teams

PERKASIE — Something had to give Friday night at Helman Field.

Central Bucks West and host Pennridge went into the teams’ Suburban One League National Conference football opener with 3-0 records.

A 36-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Aiden Tetowski to senior receiver Sean Leuthe with 28 seconds remaining gave Pennridge a stirring 14-7 victory, capping a five-play, 85-yard drive against a formidable Bucks football team.

“It’s awesome,” said senior linebacker tight end Blake Landherr, who was the best player on the field. “The seniors lost to them a few times (so) it’s great to get a win. We really shut down their offense. It was a great night.”

Landherr scored the Rams’ first touchdown on a 10-yard reception from Tetowski in the closing seconds of the first half to complete a 10-play, 90-yard drive and was a factor all evening on defense, making consecutive tackles for loss in Pennridge territory to thwart a CB West second-half drive.

“He’s a tremendous football player,” said CB West head coach Rob Rowan. “He has a tremendous nose for the football. We knew that coming in — we just didn’t do a good enough job.”

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Landherr finished with seven tackles, including 1½ for loss, and recovered a fumble.

“He’s one heck of a football player,” said Pennridge head coach Kyle Beller. “That kid’s got a motor that just keeps going and he loves playing this game.”

As for the winning score, Leuthe caught the ball at the 20-yard line with room and sped down the home sideline and into the end zone.

“We saw their safeties expanding almost every single play,” said Leuthe, whose other catch was for a 3-yard loss. “We put a comeback on them, and it was wide open. I was kind of shocked (to have that much space).”

The Bucks had evened the score at 7 early in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard run by senior running back Louie Cipollo to close out a six-play, 80-yard march.

“The difference in the game was they just outplayed us,” Rowan said. “Just a lot of mistakes on our end that, when you play a really good football team, you’re not going to get away with. I give them all the credit.”

Pennridge (4-0) defeated Bethlehem Liberty (35-0), Souderton (28-11) and Council Rock South (27-10) to open the season, while CB West (3-1) downed Easton (36-7), Wilson West Lawn (35-23) and Souderton (35-14) in the first three weeks.

The Rams advanced to the District One 6A title game last year as the top seed, while the Bucks reached the district semifinals in 2023 and ’24. CB West had won the previous five meetings between the schools, with Pennridge last prevailing in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.

What’s next for CB West Football?

The Bucks host defending District One 6A champion North Penn on Sept. 25 (7 p.m.)

What’s next for Pennridge Football?

The Rams visit Central Bucks East on Sept. 25 (7 p.m.).

Key play

Leuthe’s deciding 36-yard touchdown catch from Tetowski in the final minute.

By the numbers: Central Bucks West vs. Pennridge

1: Third-down conversion on six tries for CB West, compared to Pennridge going 5 for 13.

Game balls

Pennridge junior quarterback Aiden Tetowski completed 11 of 22 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

CB West senior running back/linebacker Nick Miletto rushed 14 times for 88 yards, caught one pass for 21 yards and had another fine defensive game.

Pennridge senior linebacker/tight end Blake Landherr had seven tackles, with 1½ for loss, a fumble recovery and 10-yard touchdown reception.

They said it

“This win’s huge,” said Pennridge senior receiver Sean Leuthe. “Almost everybody had us losing this game. No. 1 and No. 2 in the district (rankings) — it’s going to be a good game. We just came out on top.”

“When we’re moving the ball, getting 6 or 7 yards at a chunk and feeling like we’re getting ready to punch it in (on the opening drive that ended in a fumble recovery by Pennridge senior linebacker Brady Blomgren at the Rams’ 11),” said CB West head coach Rob Rowan. “If we do that, I think the dynamic of the game is very different. But we didn’t.”

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pennridge takes CB West in battle of unbeaten football teams