Hoke plays hero as Bermudian Springs knocks off York Catholic

Bermudian Springs didn't test out backup quarterback Tristan Hoke's arm a whole lot, but with the game on the line in the fourth quarter Friday night versus York Catholic, the senior came up big twice.

Quinton Nace was the beneficiary both times, first keeping the chains moving with a fourth-down grab and then catching the game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left in the game. That gave the host Eagles a 20-17 win, their second 20-17 win in as many weeks and fourth straight victory overall.

"That embodies what high school football is all about," Bermudian head coach Jon DeFoe said. "It's a real resilient group we've got and they keep battling."

Hoke was subbing for starter Chase Dull, who suffered a season-ending injury on the Eagles' second series of the game. Faced with a fourth-and-3 at the York Catholic 18-yard line in the final minute, Hoke hit Nace with the slant to set up a first-and-goal.

Backed up to the 14 two plays later, Hoke took a three-step drop and immediately fired it to right corner of the end zone, where Nace out-leaped a defender and brought the ball in for the winning score.

The winning drive almost didn't happen, as Bermudian (4-4 overall, 4-1 in YAIAA Division I) muffed a punt return, but recovered the ball at midfield after holding the Irish to a three-and-out with 4:12 left in regulation.

York Catholic (3-5, 3-2) had taken advantage of another miscue earlier in the quarter to go ahead. Brandon Creisher stripped Ethan Frank of the ball and ran it back 30 yards to the Bermudian 5, setting up Jakkar Kinard's 5-yard run to put Catholic ahead 17-13 with 7:31 remaining.

Ashton West, who had the winning score for Bermudian last week against Delone Catholic, had to settle for the Eagles' first score Friday. He ran it in from a yard out to cut the lead to 10-7 after Bermudian recovered the Fighting Irish's muff of the second-half opening kickoff.

Hoke put the Eagles ahead 13-10 later in the quarter on a 29-yard TD pass to Trevor Grim.

York Catholic led 10-0 at the half, stopping Bermudian on fourth down inside the Catholic 30 on three straight possessions.

Bermudian looks to continue its win streak at Littlestown next Friday, while York Catholic hosts Fairfield that same evening.

York Catholic7307—17Bermudian Springs00137—20

First Quarter

YC— Daniel Yokemick 14 run (Luke Brennan kick),9:28

Second Quarter

YC — Brennan 25 FG, 0:00

Third Quarter

BS — Ashton West 1 run (Noah Aeppli kick), 11:05

BS— Trevor Grim 29 pass from Tristan Hoke (kick failed), 6:02

Fourth Quarter

YC — Jakkar Kinard 5 run (Brennan kick), 7:31

BS — Quinton Nace 14 pass from Hoke (Aeppli kick), 0:15

YCBSFirst downs1117Rushes-yards28-8655-214Passing10-13-05-11-0Passing yards11579Total yards201293Punts4-28.73-37.4 Fumbles-lost2-22-1Penalties-yards2-153-25

Individual statistics

Rushing — YC, Jakkar Kinard 13-62, Daniel Yokemick 13-31, Brandon Creisher 1-2, Luke Brennan 1-(-9). BS, Ashton West 26-130, Addison Wheeler 13-46, Ethan Frank 5-28, Devon Hodgen 9-21, Tristan Hoke 1-(-3), Chase Dull 1-(-8)

Passing — YC, Yokemick 10-13-115-0. BS, Hoke 4-10-75-0, Dull 1-2-4-0

Receiving — YC, Riley Brennan 1-36, Joseph Bauhof 3-36, Luke Brennan 5-35, Creisher 1-8. BS, Trevor Grim 1-29, Quinton Nace 2-24, Chase David 1-22, Hodgen 1-4