Big Red rolls on: Souderton shuts down Upper Dublin in SOL Continental clash

FRANCONIA >> With Souderton closing in on a victory, quarterback Evan Kutzler wrapped things up with a nice, pretty bow.

On 4th-and-14 at the Upper Dublin 42, Kutzler lofted one deep along the sideline, placing a well-aimed dart for Kyle Bob.

“He put it in a place that only Kyle could get it and Kyle’s a really good receiver, very athletic kid,” Big Red coach Ed Gallagher said, “and he just went up and got it.”

The 28-yard gain set up Kutzler’s eight-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Purvy, which provided Souderton a 21-point lead it would not relinquish. Big Red’s 28-7 victory over the Cardinals was complete on both sides of the ball, and ran Souderton’s unbeaten record to 3-0.

“We love playing as a unit,” Kutzler said. “Playing as a unit is a big thing for us. And we just had to limit our mistakes.”

There were few for Souderton, which also improved to 3-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

Said Gallagher: “I’m really happy with the effort our kids gave. They came off the ball up front, our kids finished their runs, and most importantly, we didn’t turn the ball over.”

Souderton limited a high-powered Upper Dublin (2-1, 1-1 conference) squad to just 48 yards on the ground, 119 through the air. Big Red even had a goal-line stand late in the third quarter.

“Mike Heath, our defensive coordinator, did a great job putting together a game plan to stop them,” Gallagher said. “Holding a team like that to seven points is impressive. They’re a good football team.”

Kutzler was part of that defensive effort, contributing an interception. Behind center, he completed six of 12 passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, and he also ran for another score.

“I praise our receivers. They’re a big part of what I do,” Kutzler said. “I’m really glad we got Jalen back (in the ground game). And we have Brayden (Porter) and Sean (McGoldrick). We really have a great backfield and that’s a big part of what we do.”

Big Red on the Move >> Souderton received the opening kickoff and briskly moved 52 yards in nine plays.

The Indians, mixing in some no-huddle, called on four different ball carriers, including Jalen White, who gained 30 yards on five carries during the march.

White scored on a four-yard run, providing Big Red a 7-0 lead just over three minutes into the contest.

The Indians’ defense did not allow a first down in the opening quarter, giving the ball back to their determined offense.

Souderton converted an Upper Dublin fumble into a score, with Kutzler dashing in from four yards out to make it 14-0 late in the first.

Cardinals Come Alive >> Upper Dublin cut the margin in half with a perfect mix of pass and run, using a 12-play, 63-yard drive to make it 14-7.

Jacob Rossman piled in from a yard out, bringing Upper Dublin within seven.

But Big Red strengthened its lead before the half.

The Indians ate up 7 minutes and 11 seconds of the second quarter, driving from their own 36 to the Cardinal end zone.

Kutzler scrambled for a key first down and hit Shaun Purvy for another.

With just 17 seconds left in the first half, White scored again, crossing the goal line standing up to make it 21-7 Indians at the break.

Souderton nearly doubled up Upper Dublin on plays from scrimmage in the first half – 36 to 19.

The only score of the second half was Kutzler’s 8-yard toss to Purvy, who made a spin move around the goal line to push it in for six. That TD was set up by the fourth-down throw to Bob.

“I’ve been with this group since I was in pee-wee,” Kutzler said with a smile. “So we really have great chemistry and I just love being on the field with my brothers.”

Souderton 28, Upper Dublin 7
Upper Dublin             0 7 0 0 – 7
Souderton               14 7 7 0 – 28
First Quarter
S-Jalen White 4 run (Nick Haynes kick), 8:40.
S-Evan Kutzler 4 run (Haynes kick), 1:38.
Second Quarter
UD-Jacob Rossman 1 run (Owen Carl kick), 7:28.
S-White 2 run (Haynes kick), :17.
Third Quarter
S-Shaun Purvy 8 pass from Kutzler (Haynes kick), 7:13.
                        UD              S
First Downs             11              14
Rushes-yards            18-48           50-210
Passing                 14-26-0         6-12-1
Passing yards           119             79
Total yards             167             289
Punts                   3               3
Penalties-yards         5-30            8-65
Fumbles-lost            1-1             0-0
Rushing
UD: Jacob Rossman 8-37, TD; Micah Bootman 3-16; John Kohlbrenner 3-(-2); Michael Wright 1-2; Colin O’Sullivan 3-(-5).
S: Corey Sykes 5-21; Brayden Porter 7-54; Jalen White 25-87, 2 TD; Shaun Purvy 2-17; Kutzler 7-15, TD; Jacob Horton 2-8; Sean McGoldrick 2-8.
Passing
UD: O’Sullivan 14-26-119-0-1.
S: O’Sullivan 6-12-79-1-0.
Receiving
UD: Bootman 4-37; Logan Trimm 3-13; Rossman 1-3; Chris Kohlbrenner 1-3; Noah Lee 2-25; John Kohlbrenner 1-11; Jacob Gondek 2-27.
S: Porter 1-22; Purvy 3-20, TD; Kyle Bob 2-37.
Interceptions
S-Kutzler.