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William Penn searching for consistency after loss to J.P. McCaskey


LANCASTER >> Maintaining possession of the football.

That's what was missing from William Penn's game Friday night, as the Bearcats dropped their second game of the season, 31-12, to rival J.P. McCaskey.

Four interceptions and two fumbles killed any semblance of momentum the Bearcats could muster at McCaskey Stadium in the 75th meeting between the two teams.

"Win or lose, we have to have a positive attitude," William Penn coach Shawn Heinold said after the game. "We have to keep working despite the diversity. We're not playing at a consistent level right now."

For the first time since the War of the Roses Golden Bucket reappeared in the rivalry game in 2011 — it had been lost in a closet at William Penn since 1978 — it will be residing for a second consecutive year at McCaskey.

The two teams have traded wins the last four years.

The Red Tornado (1-1) had their struggles Friday night but put together a solid run game, something they didn't do the opening week of the season when they netted negative yards on the ground against Harrisburg, the team the Bearcats face next week.

William Penn (0-2) couldn't find much on the ground Friday night, but did have some success in the air as quarterback Jose Santiago-Curet completed 10 passes for 142 yards.

Napoleon Snellings started the first series of the game at quarterback before Heinold went to Santiago-Curet.

"We're going to stick with Jose at this point," Heinold said. "He has some real talent, he just has to work on his confidence and reads. This was his first real start, so he's going to make some mistakes, but I told him I'll never get down on him, we're going to work to get better, and to just stay positive."

Khalid Dorsey was a bright spot for the Bearcats in the loss. The sophomore caught two passes for 90 yards, including a short pass he turned into a 57-yard touchdown reception at the end of the second quarter.

"We knew coming into this year that (Dorsey) was someone who could potentially help us, and tonight he did," Heinold said. "We're seeing some good things out of the younger players. But again it all comes down to consistency and getting them reps."

William Penn0606—12J.P. McCaskey140710—31

First Quarter

JP — Jathan Gonzalez 3 run (Nick Allen kick), 4:16.

JP — Ray Godwin 6 run (Allen kick), 3:15.

Second Quarter

WP — Khalid Dorsey 57 pass from Jose Santiago-Curet (run failed), 0:00.

Third Quarter

JP — Carlos Lugo 24 run (Allen kick), 1:15.

Fourth Quarter

JP — Randolph Speller 3 run (Allen kick), 6:41.

WP — Angel DeJesus 4 run (pass failed), 5:54.

JP — Allen 31 kick, 2:41.

WPJPFirst downs714Rushes-yards20-3643-190 Passing10-20-46-16-0 Passing yards14274Total yards178264Punts2-21.51-36 Fumbles-lost4-21-0 Penalties-yards5-2710-65
Individual statistics

Rushing — WP, Andrew Radzik 8-18, Napoleon Snellings 3-18, Jose Santiago-Curet 7-(-12), Khalid Dorsey 1-8, Angel DeJesus 1-4. JP, Carlos Lugo 13-63, Ray Godwin 12-60, Jathan Gonzalez 11-57, Randolph Speller 2-8, William Brown Jr. 2-4, Isiah Speller 1-(-3), Tarshon Gant 1-6, John Pacheco 1-(-5).

Passing — WP, Santiago-Curet 10-20-4-142, Snellings 0-0-0-0. JP, Gonzalez 6-16-0-74, Ante Robinson 0-0-0-0.

Receiving — WP, Dorsey 2-90, Eric Mann 4-38, Nyshaun Ritter 3-9, Snellings 1-5. JP, Randolph Speller 3-49, Kobe Gantz 2-28, Ray Godwin 1-(-3).