PINE TWP —Fans from both sides squirmed in their seats Friday night at Pine-Richland.

Seneca Valley fell short in a 35-28 Northern Eight football loss despite a dramatic fourth-quarter effort to tie the game.

The Raiders were unable to stop the quick-starting Pine-Richland offense, which scored two first-quarter touchdowns.

The Raiders failed to score in the first quarter, but fought back with a 53-yard run by running back Hank Royal with 10:22 left in the half. The teams both scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter.

Seneca Valley's third touchdown of the quarter trimmed its deficit to 28-21 with 1:19 left.

With nine seconds left before halftime, the Raiders blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt to stay within a touchdown.

After allowing a Rams' touchdown in the third quarter, a 28-yard one-handed catch by Ben Bachik landed Seneca Valley in a second-and-goal situation. Quarterback Jack Cook rushed for the remaining two yards with 11:54 left in the fourth quarter, bringing the Raiders to a 35-28 deficit.

Seneca Valley blocked another field goal attempt and took the ball at its own 33-yard line.

With the clock winding down, the Raiders began their bid to tie the game. A few first downs later, the Raiders found themselves in a fourth-and-two situation on the Rams' 22-yard line with 2:16 remaining.

But the drive stalled there.

Despite the loss, Seneca Valley coach Dave Vestal said his team showed progress and its ability to fight against quality teams.

“I'm proud of our kids for scratching and clawing to get back into the game,” Vestal said. “We're still getting better.”

Vestal said their main issue and focus was to limit Phil Jurkovec, but the Rams' quarterback still found a way to rush for 209 yards and one touchdown and pass for 247 yards and another score.

Vestal said they blitzed Jurkovec as much as possible and did their best at trying to contain him.

“The big thing was to try and get pressure on him,” Vestal said. “We brought lots of pressures and tried to be aggressive.”

The Raiders rushed for 179 yards, and Cook passed for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Cook also rushed for a two-yard touchdown.

“I think Jack did an awesome job,” Vestal said.

Royal also fared well with 142 rushing yards and a TD. Royal left the night with an injury and his status is uncertain for next week.

“He's a tough kid,” Vestal said.

Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz said Seneca Valley was a tough team, and the game provided the perfect opportunity to test his undefeated Rams.

“That's a good team over there,” Kasperowicz said. “I think we needed that.”

Kasperowicz said he was unnerved by his team's inability to score in the red-zone in the fourth quarter, but he was happy with his defense's grit.

“But hey, defense stepped up when they were needed,” Kasperowicz said. “That was good for us to be in a battle like that.”