Pennridge staying tough after reaching District 1-6A final

EAST ROCKHILL >> No football team has a monopoly on toughness. But Pennridge coach Cody Muller believes the part of Bucks County the Rams reside in definitely has its own kind of it.

“I think the great thing is that this community is a little bit different than everywhere else,” Muller said. “Pennridge is known as more of a blue-collar type of place. No matter where these kids are from in the district – some of them coming from Hilltown, from Bedminster, from other places in the district here – but they all have that same kind of mentality for them. Even if they don’t, they learn it pretty quickly.”

That mindset was put to great use in last year’s COVID-19 condensed season. Pennridge finished 7-1, claiming the Suburban One League National Conference title – its first SOL crown since 2012 – and reached the final of the four-team District 1-6A playoffs.

“We’re a physical team,” said Brayden Landherr, a senior tailback and linebacker. “We’re going to hit you every play. No matter what the score is, we’re not going to stop. And we really demonstrated that last year and all the guys this year are the same way. You could see it at practice already during this first week of camp, we’re a physical team and I think that’s important too.”

It’s a gridiron principle that has the Rams remaining confident that even with a newer cast on the field in 2021, success is set to continue.

 “The negative is we lost those guys to graduation but the positive is these guys that are coming up through got to watch and play against them in practice and see what the level was, the standard that was set by those guys,” Muller said.  “So yeah we’ll miss all those guys without a doubt in my mind but I think we have some pretty good confidence in the guys that are coming up through and they’ve shown a lot so far throughout summer and in camp so we’re excited to (see) where this is going.”

Pennridge’s defense posted three consecutive shutouts in allowing just 29 points in its first five games of 2020. Six Rams on that side of the ball earned All-SOL National first team honors but five graduated – including The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Player of the Year Shane Hartzell – with the lone returner being junior linebacker Phil Picciotti.

“Phil’s a great football player, a great kid,” Muller said. “He’s doing well so far and I think the nice thing for him is he’s got some really good guys around him, lot of good intensity around him and guys that are stepping in – Dylan O’Brien’s stepping in next to him. You know, we’re not skipping a beat in a sense of just the IQ and the intensity that’s being brought.”

The secondary is a new group with Muller noting the work of junior Connor Lelii in camp. Ryan Gallagher played nose tackle as a freshman last year with Muller liking the potential of sophomore tackle Chase Washington.

“I think we just have 11 guys that want to go for it, be physical, make tackles, not afraid of anybody,” said Pennridge senior Tyler Fuchs, a defensive end and tight end. “And we’re going to give it 100% every time we’re out on the field.”

Offensively, the Rams averaged almost 30 points per game a year ago (29.3) and return three of their five offensive lineman in seniors Danny Fish (all-conference second team), Stephen Reutlinger (all conference honorable mention) and Joe Rindone.

Pennridge has to make up for most of the backfield production after having its top six rushers graduate. Landherr is part of a group looking to maintain a ground game that averaged 243.1 yards per game in 2020.

“Our offense, Ram Ball as a whole here, we’re in your face, we don’t care if you know the play, we’re going to run down your throat and you have to try to stop us,” said Landherr, who had 103 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries last year. “So that’s kind of our brand of football – we’re a tough football team and we’re going to run it down the field on you. And that’s how it is – you’re going to have to try to stop us.”

Muller said the quarterback position was still sorting itself out between senior Logan McGowan and junior Xavier Dantzler. Whoever the signal caller is, they will have a quality downfield target in senior wide receiver Adam Mossbrook, who led the Rams in both catches (10) and receiving yards (170) last season.

“He’s done a great job so far in camp,” said Muller of Mossbrook. “He’s probably had one of the most impressive camps blocking. He’s been very physical, which I love to see from him.”

Pennridge opens 2021 with four straight home games, welcoming Ches-Mont League side Downingtown East to Helman Field for the season opener Aug. 27. The Rams start SOL National play the following week hosting Pennsbury Sept. 3 then hit the road for the first time Sept. 24 when they visit North Penn.  Last year was the first time since 2000 Pennridge and North Penn did not meet.

“I have no doubt in my mind me and my boys can go play any team, anywhere at any time and I wouldn’t be scared or afraid of anything,” Fuchs said. “I think we got it in us to just keep playing. Got a lot of heart, just don’t give up.”