In a thrilling finish, Susquehanna Township edged out Wyomissing with a 37-35 victory in the District 3 Class 4A football semifinals on March 15, 2024. The game, held at Susquehanna Township, was decided on the final play when Josh Nengite caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Torin Evans, sealing the Spartans’ fate.
With just 59 seconds remaining, Wyomissing had taken a 35-31 lead after Justice Hardy scored on a 9-yard touchdown run. However, Susquehanna quickly responded, advancing to the 15-yard line with only two seconds left on the clock. In a dramatic play, Evans rolled to his left and reversed direction, finding Nengite in the back of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
Susquehanna Township, now boasting a perfect record of 12-0, will face off against Twin Valley (also 12-0) for the district title on March 22, 2024, at a location yet to be confirmed. Twin Valley advanced after a decisive 45-14 victory over West York in the other semifinal matchup.
The game exhibited significant momentum shifts, particularly in the second quarter. Trailing 17-7, Hardy made a crucial impact, scoring on a 40-yard run and later catching a 4-yard touchdown pass from Brandy Eisenhower, which helped Wyomissing regain a 21-17 lead by halftime.
In the third quarter, Susquehanna responded with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Evans to Nengite, reclaiming the lead at 24-21. Wyomissing’s Tyler Niedrowski then scored on a 10-yard run, pushing the score to 28-24 in favor of Wyomissing before Susquehanna took control once more, leading to the tense final moments of the game.
Hardy, a junior for Wyomissing, finished with impressive stats, accumulating 156 yards on 17 carries, while teammate Danny Fleischood added 88 yards on 13 carries. This semifinal clash not only showcased the resilience of both teams but also set the stage for an exciting district championship next week.
