Souderton pounces on opportunities in win over Council Rock North

FRANCONIA >> Souderton Area took the ball away six times and moved one win closer to the playoffs with a 39-6 victory over non-conference foe Council Rock North Friday night. 

“The coaches talked to us about how it’s one step at a time,” said Jalen White, who took a lot of them when he dashed 85 yards for a third-quarter touchdown. “We got this game, and now we have to win the next two.”

Big Red won for the fourth time in five games and raised its overall record to 4-4. Council Rock North dropped to 1-7 on the season. 

“We just came off a tough loss against North Penn, but we came ready to work and got the job done,” White said. 

Opportunity came early for Big Red, and they pounced on it. 

Just two plays after senior Kyle Schmidt returned a Rock North fumble down to the nine-yard line, Big Red’s DeAndre Swift charged in for a seven-yard score, quickly making it 7-0 Souderton. 

Just three plays later, senior Tre Samuels scooped up another Rock North fumble and took it all the way in, his twisting, weaving 30-yard return extending the early lead to 13-0. 

The Indians needed only two offensive plays for a 13-0 edge. 

Big Red was forced to punt on its next series and had to settle for a field goal – good from 35 yards by William Leyland – after an eight-play drive stalled at the Rock North 18. But Souderton was well in control, up 16-0 early in the second quarter. 

“We executed okay,” Indians coach Ed Gallagher said. “I wasn’t thrilled with our overall execution. I knew there was gonna be somewhat of an emotional letdown after the North Penn game, but thankfully we came out, forced some turnovers on defense and got the early scores.

“But execution-wise on offense, we have a lot of things we need to clean up.”

Souderton saw its lead grow to 18-0 when Rock North had a snap go out of the end zone on a punt attempt, and then Wakefield showed off his versatility when he returned the ensuing free kick 45 yards for a score.

It was 25-0 Souderton at the break. 

“There’s certain games where we have a lot of big plays,” said White (121 yds). “DeAndre – he has a lot of big plays. He’s the top scorer on the team and carries the team on his back.”

And then came White’s big play. 

The reserve running back exploded out of the Wing-T, finding a seam and sprinting away 85 yards for a score that stretched the gap to 32-0 in the third quarter. 

“All season, I’ve been waiting for a chance and the coaches gave it to me,” White said, “and I took advantage of it.”

“Jalen took advantage of his opportunity and made a nice, big, long run,” Gallagher said. “And there were some good blocks on that play as well. The offensive line did a pretty good job all night.

“It was solid,” Gallagher said of the win. “Nothing spectacular, but the defense made some plays, we forced a bunch of turnovers, and I’m happy for the seniors, to get a game like this on their Senior Night.”

Rock North kept battling, forcing a pair of turnovers and breaking the shutout on a 19-yard run by Tim Gibson, but Big Red capped the scoring with a one-yard burst by Ethan Moyer. 

“Hats of to Council Rock North. Their kids fought,” Gallagher said. “Their two defensive ends are really good football players and we struggled blocking them all night.”