Pennsbury blanks Souderton

FAIRLESS HILLS – Two weeks into the season, the Pennsbury High School football team was still looking for an offensive spark.

Two weeks later, the Falcons have racked up 78 points against their last two opponents, including Friday night’s 37-0 rout of a tough Souderton squad at Falcon Field in both teams’ Suburban One League National Conference opener.

In a fashion typical for Pennsbury’s vaunted wing-T attack, the Falcons racked up 320 rushing yards with contributions from myriad sources. Running back Daulton Hose led the way with 122 yards, including 103 in the first half. Fullback Chris Rupprecht added 92 yards, while quarterback Mike Alley chipped in 70, with 50 of his total coming on a dazzling run around left end on the first play of the fourth quarter. Wing back Rob Daly’s 37 rushing yards included a 25-yard scamper in the first quarter that gave the Falcons an early 12-0 lead.

Alley was a big play man throughout the evening, tossing touchdown passes of 17 yards to Rupprecht, 71 yards to tight end Vinnie Ratamess and 74 yards to Daly. The quarterback only threw three passes in the game.

“We knew they were a real physical team. We tried to establish our running game. We got behind our line and had the energy to keep it going all game,” Alley said. “It’s nice when you have more than one weapon on offense.”

Afterwards, the grinning quarterback conceded that his passing production was a pleasant departure from the team’s usual reliance on the ground and pound game. Alley had one touchdown pass for the season before last night.

“It feels great,” he said. “I don’t complain when we don’t throw the ball, but when coach calls the (passing) plays, I know I’ll be ready.”

Pennsbury Head Coach Galen Snyder said that although Souderton made the Falcons (3-1 overall, 1-0 SOLN) earn it, his offense found a way to break down the Indians (2-2 overall, 0-1 SOLN) early and often.

“Nothing came easy tonight,” Snyder said. “I though they did a nice job against Rupprecht in the first half, so we got Hose going. And we wanted to get him going a bit. Then we got Rupprecht going in the second half.”

Souderton fought hard despite falling behind by 12 points within the game’s first seven minutes. Hose’s three-yard touchdown run capped Pennsbury’s 11-play, 62-yard drive to open the game. The running back’s 26-yard burst midway through the march was the big gainer.

Souderton fumbled on its second play from scrimmage. Pennsbury recovered at the Indians’ 36 to set up Daly’s 25-yard touchdown run.

Pennsbury came away with no points on its next two possessions. On the latter, Souderton stopped the Falcons on fourth-and-goal from the 3 when Alley scrambled for a yard.

The Falcons soon took advantage of their good field position, however, as the defense forced Souderton to punt and Alley soon found Rupprecht for a 17-yard touchdown pass. The teams entered halftime with a 19-0 score.

Pennsbury’s main trouble throughout the game came on extra points. The Falcons botched their first kick attempt, then failed on a two-point run try after their second touchdown. Their kick succeeded after the third touchdown, but then they failed on their next three attempts.

After intermission, Alley found Ratamess open behind the defense for a 71-yard touchdown that made the score 25-0. Rupprecht’s two-yard touchdown run early in the fourth and Alley’s 74-yard pass to Daly on third-and-39 late in game completed the scoring.

It was Pennsbury’s first shutout of the year. The Falcons allowed 19 points against Council Rock North last week after leading 35-0. Souderton finished with 68 rushing yards and 69 passing.

Souderton’s best threat came in the first quarter when the Indians moved to Pennsbury’s 12 before missing a 29-yard field goal attempt. They drove to Pennsbury’s 38 in the second quarter before punting and the 30 in the fourth quarter before failing to convert on fourth-and-six.

Pennsbury 37, Souderton 0

(Sept. 25 at Pennsbury)

Souderton (2-2) 0 0 0 0 — 0

Pennsbury (2-2) 12 7 6 12 — 37

SUMMARY

First Quarter

P — Hose 3 run (kick failed)

P — Daly 25 run (kick failed)

Second Quarter

P — Rupprecht 17 pass from Alley (Sannelli kick)

Third Quarter

P — Ratamess 71 pass from Alley (kick failed)

Fourth Quarter

P — Rupprecht 2 run (kick failed)

P — Daly 74 pass from Alley (kick failed)