Pennridge shuts out Central Bucks East, improves to 3-0

BUCKINGHAM >> There are many ways to win a football game, and Pennridge showcased several of them on Saturday afternoon.

The defense created gridlock at the line of scrimmage and pressured the quarterback all game long.

Elias Dantzler scored three touchdowns as part of a diverse running game and Bobby Croyle found five different receivers in the passing attack, including one for a score.

The Rams also blocked a punt and scored a safety. They crossed the T’s and dotted the I’s in a thorough 42-0 victory over rival Central Bucks East.

“We’re locking down,” lineman Jake Tarburton said of a defense that allowed minus-19 rushing yards for the contest. “It’s definitely a good feeling. We just had to get off the ball, keep moving, be as physical as we could be.”

Pennridge ran its unbeaten record to 3-0 overall and 3-0 in the Suburban One League National Conference.

“Coach (John) Donnelly always gets his guys hyped up and ready to go so to have a win like that is something great for our guys,” Rams coach Cody Muller said.

Pennridge had five sacks in the contest, three by Tarburton. They quarterback Pat Keller to 74 yards through the air for the Patriots (1-2, 1-2 National).

“Our guys believe each other,” Muller said. “They’re not trying to do too much, just do their jobs. A lot of credit to our coaches for preparing them week in and week out and getting them ready to go.”

Pennridge took the lead barely four minutes in and led 21-0 at the break.

“The big thing for our guys is to start fast,” Muller said. “I think our kids, so far this year, have done a great job of bringing the energy from the jump.”

RAM RESOLVE >> Pennridge’s defense forced a three-and-out to start the game and gave the ball over to the Ram offense.

Pennridge needed just six plays to move the ball 61 yards, taking advantage of a pass interference along the way.

Elias Dantzler raced in from nine yards out, giving the Rams a 6-0 lead (the extra-point attempt was blocked).

The Ram defense protected the lead and the offense increased it on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter.

Dillon Powles barrelled up the middle on an 11-yard touchdown run to make it 12-0, and after the safety by the special teams, the Rams boosted the margin to 21-0 when Dantzler scored his second TD, this one from a yard away.

Pennridge dominance continued into the third quarter.

Dantzler dashed in from six yards out to make it 28-0, and the mercy rule took effect when Bobby Croyle found a wide open Tyler Fuchs for an 11-yard score.

Xavier Dantzler’s one-yard TD run in the fourth provided the final margin.

“The leadership,” Tarburton said of what has made this a special fall thus far. “We’re all family. We’re all hanging out every day, every weekend. We just gotta keep it going.”

Pennridge 42, Central Bucks East 0
Pennridge 7 14 14 7 – 42
CB East 0 0 0 0 – 0
First Quarter
P-Elias Dantzler 9 run (kick failed), 7:57.
Second Quarter
P-Dillon Powles 11 run (kick failed), 10:30.
P-Safety, snap went out of the end zone, 7:14.
P-Elias Dantzler 1 run (Brandon Shire kick), 6:34.
Third Quarter
P-Elias Dantzler 6 run (Shire kick), 5:01.
P-Tyler Fuchs 11 pass from Bobby Croyle (Shire kick), 1:07.
Fourth Quarter
P-Xavier Dantzler 1 run (Shire kick), 8:08.
P CBE
First Downs 17 8
Rushes-yards 41-265 -19
Passing 6-10-1 10-26-0
Passing yards 49 74
Total yards 314 55
Punts 3 4
Penalties-yards 7-45 4-40
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Rushing
P: Jack Ferguson 1-23; Quentin Heller 1(-1); Connor Lelii 1-(-3); Tyler Wetzel 1-5; Dillon Powles 7-56, TD; Shane Hartzell 9-65; Shane Kihm 1-0; Brayden Landherr 1-(1); Bobby Croyle 5-13; Xavier Dantzler 4-20, TD; Elias Dantzler 7-40, 3 TD; Cornelius Shoemake Jr. 3-48.
CBE: Mark Lapioli 3-(-3); Will Silverman 2-0; Pat Keller 10-(-23); Declan Kelly 1-(-3); Ethan Shine 6-10.
Passing
P: Croyle 6-10-49-1-0.
CBE: Keller 10-26-74-0-0.
Receiving
P: Adam Mossbrook 2-17; Tyler Fuchs 1-11, TD; Joey Kacerik 1-10; Fabian Padin 1-4; Elias Dantzler 1-7.
CBE: Andrew Perillo 3-15; Silverman 3-30; Matt LaBouliere 1-15; Declan Kelly 2-6; Braeden Leff 1-8.