Eddie Saydee (6) cuts around a Lawrenceville School defender on Friday. Saydee is the heart and soul of Penn Charter's offense, tallied 123 yards on the ground against the Big Red. (Photo by Jonathan Vander Lugt)

by Jonathan Vander Lugt

In its match against the Lawrenceville School on Friday, Penn Charter football had its toughest test of 2017. The Quakers went in with a 3-0 record on the young season, and had won its games by a combined 107-19.

Lead back Eddie Saydee hadn’t really been tested either, as the junior back had averaged over 11 yards per touch in the Quakers’ first three games. Eventually, things were going to have to get harder for Saydee and his teammates.

“We played a good football team today,” Quaker coach Tom Coyle said. “Lawrenceville had big, physical, tough kids. We knew we were up against a challenge up front, and I think our kids really responded.”

They did everything you could ask for PC’s narrow 20-17 win – stout defense, tough running and overall resiliency that was important to see.

Utilizing a quick, hurry-up offense, Lawrenceville marched 60 yards on the game’s first drive to the Quaker one-yard-line before PC came up with consecutive goal-line stops. The Big Red settled for a field goal, the only points that it would score until the fourth quarter.

Penn Charter came back with a deep field-goal drive on the following possession, and forced a turnover on the ensuing Lawrenceville drive. On the second play, Gavin Tygh broke through the line, sacked quarterback Rob Rolfe and forced a fumble. Kyle Jones scooped it up and scampered 18 yards for a score, and just like that, the Quakers found themselves up 10-3.

“We went out in front – it was important for us to get out ahead,” Coyle said. “If we had to play from behind, with their physical nature, we thought it would be a challenge.”

It took Penn Charter until partway through the third to get another score on a 44-yard breakaway run from Saydee. More stellar defensive play on the ensuing Big Red possession – the entire Lawrenceville drive consisted of a pair of sacks by Terence Thompson and Tygh, before Thompson intercepted a Rolfe pass – gave Penn Charter the field position it needed to knock in another field goal, bringing the margin to 20-3.

The Big Red made it a game, scoring twice on a pair of Rolfe passes to Mohammed Diakite, but another interception, this one made by PC’s Aaron Maione, put the last nail in Lawrenceville’s coffin.

“We created turnovers,” Coyle said, of what facilitated most of Penn Charter’s success on the defensive end. “We’ve been able to capitalize on what other teams are giving us.”

They forced a season-best three turnovers (which led to 10 PC points) on the day. On offense, Saydee led the way, despite being pestered by a defensive front that consistently loaded the box.

In addition to his touchdown, he finished with 123 yards on 33 carries, along with 24 through the air on two receptions. It was a tough order – 35 touches along with punt return duties – but Saydee was up to task.

“Eddie’s everything we do. It all starts with him,” Coyle said. “When we’re able to run the ball, it opens up the passing game because they load the box.”

He came up lame with what appeared to be an ankle injury late in the fourth, but Coyle didn’t seem to think it was serious enough to warrant much conversation. Elsewhere, quarterback Will Samuel threw for 94 yards on 10-of-16 passing. In the three games that he’s been featured as the main signal-caller, he’s done just enough to keep defenses honest.

Saydee is only so talented – he can’t go up against constant blitzes and be expected to carry the Penn Charter offense, especially considering how he often plays double-duty at defensive back. Perhaps the injury scare against Lawrenceville will soothe the temptation to take advantage of his talent on both sides, but he will still need his teammates to bear some of the load.

“Eddie is one of four backs we have, and we feel very confident about them,” Coyle said. Gavin Tygh gives us some work, as does Jalen Jones.” Tygh and Jones didn’t do much against the Big Red, but they have contributed more than 300 yards between them on the season.

Samuel is important too. “He made some plays,” Coyle said of his senior quarterback, who spread the ball to nine different targets on the day. “If we’re going to get eight or nine in the box, we’ve got to be able to make plays through the air.”

“We’re just trying to get better every week,” Coyle went on. Next up for the Quakers is a Friday date against Southern High School. “Hopefully we’re fortunate enough to go into Inter-Ac play at 5-0.”