FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Ground game keeps PW in control
For the second straight week, Plymouth Whitemarsh didn’t punt the ball.
The results of those games? A 35-7 win over Methacton and a 48-7 win over Norristown, both at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
In the win over Norristown Friday night, the Colonials starting offense only faced one third down before exiting the game midway through the second quarter with a 48-0 lead.
“It’s been a little while,” PW head coach Dan Chang said of the offensive efficiency. “These guys are executing really well. They’re playing under some pressure and they’re doing a nice job. I’m proud of our guys and how they can keep their composure.”
The Colonials relied on their running game in the win, throwing the ball just three times.
As a whole, they rushed for 366 yards on 43 attempts — over 8.5 yards per rush — against their next-door neighbors. The starters combined for 16 carries and 200 yards — a 12.5 average.
Brian Dresnin led the starters with 93 yards on five carries and three touchdowns. Michael Paciello had two rushing scores and 37 yards on four carries. Christopher Pierce totaled 68 yards on five attempts.
The reserves found success on the ground, too. Brian McIntyre had a team-high 98 yards on 13 attempts and Phil Taormina ran six times for 61 yards.
Plymouth Whitemarsh will try to keep its success rolling and improve to 4-0 when it faces Wissahickon on the road at 7 p.m. Friday night in the Suburban One League American Conference opener for both teams.
Spartans hold off Mustangs
Springfield Township improved to 2-1 with a 20-19 road win over Midd-West Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans stopped a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter to maintain a one-point lead over the Mustangs.
Gabe Franczyk scored the game-winning touchdown earlier in the fourth — an 85-yard run. It was his third score of the day after throwing a one-yard touchdown to Cameron Dennis and running for a 24-yard touchown, both in the second quarter.
Franczyk finished the game 18-for-29 for 201 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On the ground he rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts.
Dennis led the receivers with 115 yards and a score on 12 receptions. Jude Franczyk added three catches for 58 yards.
Defensively, Keith Grantland and Jack O’Malley grabbed interceptions for the Spartans.
Springfield will be back in action with another road trip Saturday afternoon against James Buchanan at 1 p.m.
Souderton sprints by Hatboro
Souderton improved to 3-0 Friday night for the first time since 2016 with a 37-8 stomping of Hatboro-Horsham.
The Indians ground attack was a big reason why, totaling 272 yards and five touchdowns on 41 attempts.
DeAndre Wakefield led the way with 183 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. He scored on runs of 92 and 11 yards.
“I felt more open and free,” he said. “I felt like I could do more of what I actually do. And once I saw the hole, I just hit it, and the offensive line helped me a lot. As a team, we played really well together, and I just tried running hard and playing my part.”
Andrew Vince and Jalen White each scored touchdowns on the ground, adding 23 and 19 yards, respectively.
The Indians will try to keep it rolling against SOL Continental opponent William Tennent on the road Friday night at 7 p.m.
Back on track
After suffering a 42-6 loss to La Salle, North Penn bounced back with a 13-3 road win over Pennsbury Friday night.
Freshman quarterback Ryan Zeltt made his first career start and helped the Knights overcome a slow beginning and score 13 straight second-half points to improve to 2-1 this season.
Zeltt rushed for a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give NP a two-possession lead.
Defensively, North Penn made two big first-half stops inside their own five-yard line. The first time, they held Pennsbury to a field goal for its only points of the night. The second time they forced and recovered a fumble to keep it a 3-0 game.
Khalani Eaton scored the other North Penn touchdown to go along with 73 rushing yards on 16 carries. Evan Spann added 41 yards on the ground and RJ Macnamara had 34.
The Knights will open their SOL Continental schedule this week against Pennridge.
