By Nora Marsh
On October 24, the 6-3 Pen Argyl football team headed over to Paul Farnan Field to take their long awaited win against the 0-9 Bangor football team.
While the football players, cheerleaders, and marching band were getting ready for the game, students and faculty were getting ready with food and drinks alongside face and body paint, at a tailgate held behind the field under the pavilions.
People at the tailgate went over and checked into the stadium to find their spots in either the student section or in the bleachers. The football players stormed out getting ready for kickoff.
Junior, Anthony Beltran, made a huge 50 yd play, setting the Green Knights up for an early touchdown. The Green Knights got an early lead. Pen Argyl then scored another touchdown and a field goal leaving us at 17-0 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Bangor responded with a touchdown and Pen Argyl came right back with another touchdown and a 2 point conversion. It was now halftime and the score was 25-7 with Pen Argyl in the lead.
Bangor Area High School’s marching band played their show during halftime. In the 3rd quarter, neither team scored, but in the 4th there was heat from Bangor. They started off strong with a touchdown. Pen Argyl answered with another touchdown, giving them an even bigger lead. Bangor got a touchdown in the last 5 minutes, but it wasn't enough to take the lead, or win the game.
Photo Courtesy of Nora Marsh
The Pen Argyl Area High School's football team lifts their trophy in celebration for their hard-fought victory over their rivals, the Bangor Slaters.
Pen Argyl won the game, followed by awards, Caiden Faust getting Pen Argyl MVP and Xavier Ragusa getting Charles Sampson Outstanding Lineman Award. The students, followed by family members stormed the field to congratulate Pen Argyl on the win.
Head Pen Argyl football coach Brady Mutton hasn’t won against Bangor since 2020 and he said, “Winning always feels good, especially against Bangor.” He has been leading this team for 6 years now and he thinks on the field there was a level of intensity and focus that is hard to replicate during other games.
Even though after the game they did not spend a lot of time in the locker room Mutton told them how proud he was of their efforts. They then redid the alma mater and got right on the busses to walk up Robinson.
When they did have time in the locker room before the game Mutton motivated them by saying “We were all sick of losing to Bangor; it was the seniors last chance to get a Bangor win.”
Pen Argyl Senior, Mason Soos feels amazing to win the Bangor game in his senior year after all the previous high school years being losses. He also felt a huge shift in their favor in the 1st quarter when they were up to 17-0 after the second touchdown.
“That game meant everything to me, all year round the team had 1 goal and that was to beat Bangor. So winning that game meant everything to the team and I am so happy we did it.” Mason Soos talking about what this win means to him.
Terrell Estes, Pen Argyl Senior, feels that this was revenge for his longing hate of Bangor. Estes thought “on the open return on the field you can feel the tension and how scared Bangor was and how ready we were as a team to win this year.”
Estes also shared the same opinion on the meaning of the win by saying “this win means the world to me going into the game 0-3 we had to win this year not just because it’s Bangor but also for playoffs getting this win would push us farther.”