Upper Dublin stopped in PIAA 5A semifinals by Manheim Central

Upper Dublin stopped in PIAA
5A semifinals by Manheim
Central
LOWER GWYNEDD >> It would prove to be Upper Dublin’s final
offensive play of the night: running back Lucas Roselli
gathered in a short pass from quarterback Mike Slivka, made a
quick cut to evade a defender, and then darted into the end
zone.

One final moment for the District One Champs…

“It was a really good run,” Roselli said of the Cardinals’
journey through the Class 5A bracket. “I wish we could still
be playing.”

A remarkable season for Upper Dublin came to a close against
Manheim Central Friday night, as the Barons won 34-12 to
advance to the PIAA final against Penn Hills.

Upper Dublin’s Mike Slivka embraces Matthews Shields after the
Cardinals’ loss to Manheim Central in the PIAA 5A semifinals
on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

“We lost to a good football team tonight,” said Cardinals
coach Bret Stover, who guided his team to the state semis in
2015 (4A) and again this fall. “And we didn’t play our ‘A’
game unfortunately. You always wanna play your best game in
these games and we just didn’t. They forced us out of our ‘A’
game.

“They didn’t give us anything we didn’t expect, on either side
of the ball. They just did it better than we saw on film.”

Manheim Central will face Penn Hills, which dethroned two-time
defending state champ Archbishop Wood, 20-13.

“I’m just so happy. It means so much, to the team and the
program,” said Barons two-way standout Tyler Flick of moving
on.

#FOOTBALL: 6:11 3Q Manheim Township 28, Upper Dublin 6. Will
 Rivers breaks a number of tackles then dashes down the
 sideline    for   a   78-yard    TD   from    Evan   Simon.
 pic.twitter.com/Be68TGeeAg

 — Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) December 1, 2018

Flick rushed for 87 yards and a score and cut an even more
menacing figure on defense. The linebacker was part of a
swarming Central defense that squeezed Slivka’s pocket tight
all evening long.

“Mike was on the run all night,” Stover said. “They brought
the house and they’re very athletic.”

Manheim Central’s defense didn’t allow a first down until
midway through the second quarter. By then, the Barons had
built up a 14-0 lead, courtesy of a Flick TD (four yards) and
a five-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Evan Simon.

Simon threw for 180 yards and a pair of scores and also rushed
for 75 and a touchdown.

Upper Dublin’s Jason Scott reaches for a tipped ball in the
end zone for a touchdown during the Cardinals’ PIAA 5A
semifinal against Manheim Central on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018.
(Gene Walsh/Digital First Media)

Then came a scary moment.

Upper Dublin’s long snapper, Jackson Rock, was down motionless
on the field following an Upper Dublin punt. Rock left the
field on a stretcher, but regained consciousness and was
pumping his fists, trying to fire up his teammates on the
Upper Dublin sideline.

The Cardinals scored on their next possession, using an 11-
play drive to navigate 49 yards, reaching the end zone on a
15-yard hookup from Slivka to Jason Scott.

Scott caught a deflected pass in the end zone, on a 4th-
and-13. The Cardinals did not convert on the two-point
attempt, leaving the score 14-6.

 #FOOTBALL: 2:10 2Q Manheim Central 14, @UpperDublinFB 6.
 Jason Scott with a great catch on a tipped pass for 15-yard
 TD pass from Mike Slivka on 4th down. 2-point conversion
 intercepted. pic.twitter.com/DrOHLbydzj

 — Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) December 1, 2018

The touchdown looked to be a big boost for Upper Dublin going
into the half, but the Barons got a long kickoff return by
Colby Wagner, setting up Manheim Central at the Upper Dublin
45.

The Barons needed just five plays, scoring on an 11-yard pass
from Simon to Ben Wagner. Manheim Central went into the half
in firm control, up 21-6.

“They settled things down whereas if it’s 14-6, and we’re
getting the ball coming out of the half, it’s a whole
different mindset,” Stover said.

Simon stayed hot in the third quarter, hitting Will Rivers
along the sideline, and then Rivers broke a pair of tackles
and raced out of a crowd, pulling away to a 78-yard score that
widened the gap to 28-6. Central added two field goals to put
the game out of reach.

Upper Dublin’s Mason Novak finds running room as Manheim’s
Isaac Perron goes for the tackle during their PIAA 5A
semifinal on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Gene Walsh/Digital First
Media)

But Upper Dublin (12-2) battled late into the fourth, using a
nine-play, 71-yard drive that was capped off by Roselli’s
nifty burst into the end zone.

Said Stover: “These kids held up. They didn’t back down from
anybody.”

Rock was up and about by game’s end, returning to his team on
the sideline.