WARRINGTON — With a senior-dominated offensive line, Central Bucks South averaged 289.5 rushing yards per game on the way to winning the school's first District One championship in 2023.

Left guard Nick Micewski was the only returning starter on the line due to the graduations of tackes Collin Goetter and Kieran Padgett, guard Rolan Hess, center Nick Conte and tight end Jake Menaker.

Micewski and the new senior starters — tackles Matt Offner and Tommy McDonald, guard Elliott Francesco, center Dilan Monteiro and tight end Dan McCusker — helped the Titans average 225.3 rushing yards in their first four victories this season.

On Friday night, Micewski and the Titans downed visiting Central Bucks West 22-17 in dramatic fashion to win the Central Bucks Cup, which is awarded to the top CB team in head-to-head competition, outright for the first time since 2017. All three Central Bucks schools shared it with 1-1 records in 2022 and CB West won the cup last season.

South won on 39-yard touchdown pass from senior Owen Pinkerton to senior Danny Gies in the back corner of the end zone on the game’s final play.

"Our guys don't give up," Micewski said. "This game was pure heart. We weren't going to lose."

With returning starting quarterback Pinkerton's passing yardage factored in, CB South's 337.8 yards of offense was just 1.3 fewer than last season's average.

"Last year we had a heck of an O-line," said Micewski, a third-year starter. "We had an expectation to live up to that (level). Last year we were the most physical team and played with a nasty attitude.

"… (This season) I want the O-line to know we're going to run through your face every single play. They know what they're doing. They're locked in."

CB South head coach Tom Hetrick understands what the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Micewski means to the Titans' offensive line.

"He is a very physical player (and) also very athletic," Hetrick said. "That is a good combination."

In 2023, CB West downed CB South 40-29 and won the SOL National regular-season title before South prevailed 42-14 in the District One 6A playoffs on the way to the district title.

While CB West was quite effective at limiting the CB South's vaunted rushing attack Friday, the Titans' Pinkerton passed for a career-high 239 yards.

After playing a little at defensive end filling in for Hess as a junior, Micewski is starting at the position this year. He had 11 tackles, 2½ that went for loss, in the first four games before contributing 10 tackles vs. CB West.

"This year, I was told I needed to step up (on defense)," said Micewski, a 17-year-old Chalfont resident. "I worked my butt off and got the starting job."

He's picked up scholarship offers from Division One FCS school Merrimack, as well as Division II West Chester and others. But first, there are more games to win and more lines of scrimmage to try and control.

"Last year our mentality was physicality," he said. "It was the same thing every week. This year, we're building confidence with everyone on the line. We've just got to be physical and put bodies on bodies. If we do what we can do, there's no stopping us, I think."

What it means for Central Bucks West

The Bucks are a quality football team. They went ahead 17-16 with 48.7 seconds left and appeared to be on the way to a stirring victory. West (3-2 overall) did a fine job against CB South's vaunted rushing attack and moved the ball on offense.

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What it means for Central Bucks South

The jubilant Titans were still buzzing 30 minutes after the game ended. They defeated a quality, well-prepared intradistrict opponent in unforgettable fashion to remain unbeaten at 5-0.

Key play

There were so many, but perhaps the biggest was a 13-yard pass from Pinkerton to senior Dallon Smith on fourth-and-10 with 5.6 seconds left one play before the game-winning score.

By the numbers: Central Bucks West vs. Central Bucks South

CB South senior quarterback Owen Pinkerton completed 13 of 20 passes for a career-best 239 yards and two touchdowns. He engineered the deciding 68-yard drive in 43 seconds and also ran for a team-high 71 yards on 13 attempts with one score.

CB West do-it-all senior Ryan Clemens finished with 89 yards rushing on 20 carries, plus kicked a 33-yard field goal, two PATs and had a solid outing at linebacker. He scored the go-ahead TD in the final minute after being ruled down inside the 1-yard line while pushing backwards for the goal line on fourth down at the end of the third quarter.

Game Balls

Central Bucks South senior Danny Gies had seven receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner from 39 yards out on the game's final play while surrounded by three defenders. He also had a 29-yard catch with one hand as he went to the ground, setting up the Titans' second TD.

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The CB West defense limited CB South to 97 rushing yards on 26 carries (3.7 average), which was less than half of the 225.3 yards the Titans averaged (6.5 per carry) in the first four games.

CB South senior Shane Beckett filled in admirably for stellar senior Jim Wade (injury) at linebacker.

They said it

"As soon as I saw it left (Pinkerton's) hand, I knew I was coming down with it," South senior Danny Gies said of the game-winning TD catch. "I didn't care what was around me or if all 11 guys were around me. My eyes were locked on that ball and I just went and got it."

"On both sides of the ball, I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage through most of the game," West head coach Rob Rowan said. "We knew we were up against a tough task and a really good team. … (Gies is) really good. He made a couple plays tonight. That's what sums it up."

What's next for CB West football?

CB West hosts Neshaminy on Sept. 27.

What's next for CB South football?

CB South visits Pennsbury on Sept. 28 (noon).

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County High School Football: Micewski, CB South topple CB West