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Upper Perk holds off late S-F rally
by Jake Hallman, Special to The Pottstown Mercury
Posted on October 4, 2008
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| NHSCA Sports Network photo/Joe Evans |
| Upper Perk's Shawn Wenhold had a game-high 101 yards rushing, on 14 carries to lead the Indians over the Rams. |
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| NHSCA Sports Network photo/Joe Evans |
| Ryan Connor runs for some of his 86 yards, including a touchdown. Making the tackle for Spring-Ford is James Hoff. |
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| NHSCA Sports Network photo/Bruce Good |
| Spring-Ford QB Trevor Sasek passed for 227 yards and a TD in the loss to Upper Perk. He also picked up 42 yards rushing. |
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| NHSCA Sports Network photo/Bruce Good |
| Tom Paul threw for 120 yards with 2 TDs and also ran for another TD for Upper Perk. |
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ROYERSFORD — Keith Leamer and Gary Rhodenbaugh had a lot in common heading into Friday night's Pioneer Athletic Conference football game.
The Upper Perkiomen and Spring-Ford head coaches, respectively, both were looking for consistency from both sides of the ball from teams that have shown promise, but not for an entire 48 minutes.
And while the two head men still no doubt have plenty to work on, the pair both said they saw consistency. But when it came time for sustained drives on offense, and a defense that could get the stop, it was the Indians who held the advantage in the 27-21 victory.
"Again, it all goes back to a good week of practice," Leamer said. "When we practice well, we play well. We're not where we want to be yet, but we're going to keep plugging away."
The Indians (2-2, 3-3) jumped out to a two-score lead with five minutes left, and then had to fight off a strong comeback by the Rams (0-4, 0-6).
Senior tailback Ryan Connor (19 carries, 86 yards, TD) put the Tribe in front, 27-14, after a 13-yard rush across the goal line with 5:32 left in regulation. The touchdown was answered on the Rams' next touch as David Tyler (136 all-purpose yards) scampered for a five-yard score at 3:09. The score was set up by 20- and 37-yard back-to-back receptions by David McDonald (6 catches, 105) yards, one of which was tipped by a defender.
Spring-Ford got one more shot to go for the win trailing, 27-21, with 27 ticks left. Two big receptions from Tyler covering 23 and 18 yards moved the ball to the Indians' 15 with less than a second left. In the game's final play, quarterback Trevor Sasek scrambled toward the end zone but was met by Indian linebacker Mike Keller (sack, tackle for a loss) at the 5-yard line.
The loss was hard to swallow for Rhodenbaugh and the Rams, but the coach did say there was progress.
"We absolutely felt we had more consistency tonight," Rhodenbaugh said. "It's an emotionally draining game for us, but I'm proud of the kids and the effort. We got better tonight and this is a group that will stay together."
Another group that stayed together was the Indians' defense. Led up front by Jawad Majeed and Nick Hale, the defense combined for four sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception.
Majeed accounted for one fumble recovery and two solo stops to go along with half-a-sack. Hale, meanwhile, racked up a pair of tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery and half-a-sack himself.
"The defense as a whole played pretty well," Hale said. "We gave up some big plays, but we made the stops when we had to."
Majeed, though winded in the final drive, said he was confident as the Rams marched deep into Indian territory in the waning seconds of regulation.
"It just came down to smashmouth football and who had more heart," Majeed said. "We told ourselves it was up to us and we couldn't let each other down. To play defense you need a short memory."
While the game was decided in the final play, Upper Perk grabbed the momentum from the onset.
After recovering the game-opening onsides kick, Kenny Golden hauled in a two-yard touchdown from Tom Paul (6-for-13, 120 yards, 2 TD, 2 INTs) to stake the Tribe out to a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game.
Spring-Ford answered later in the second on a 26-yard offering from Sasek (13-for-24, 227, INT, TD) to Andy Ellison. Not to be outdone, Jordan Force pulled in a 33-yard fade from Paul, a feat matched by David Tyler's 34-yard run on a draw to put Spring-Ford ahead, 14-13, at the half.
Paul sneaked his way in from eight yards out late in the third quarter before Connor's decisive score.
"We're going to challenge our kids to play up to their potential this week," Leamer said, referencing next week's game against undefeated Pottsgrove. "If we have another good week of practice, and with it being our homecoming, anything can happen."
NOTES
The Rams' defense got a monster game from lineman Matt Kreueger. The sophomore tallied two sacks, a tackle for a loss, and a trio of solo stops in a solid effort. James Hoff and David McDonald both notched interceptions for the Rams, and Mike McCoy blocked an extra point. ... The Tribe got a key pick from Andrew Orlick in the fourth quarter, a sack each from Nick Edmonson and Chase Fleming, as well as pass break-ups from Mark Cole, Golden and Britt Kerr.
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