Simmon-Thompson combo guides Upper Perk past Pottstown, 29-0

RED HILL >> Upper Perkiomen pounded its way down the field on offense and the defense came up with big plays throughout the game in a 29-0 Pioneer Athletic Conference Frontier Division win over visiting Pottstown Friday night at Bill Keeny Stadium.

Logan Simmon rushed for 139 yards and Brady Thompson for 110 yards and two touchdowns and the defense intercepted two passes for the Indians (1-1, 2-4). Chris Thomas ran for 59 yards for the Trojans  (0-2, 0-6), who were held to 143 total yards.

“Logan and Brady are a great combination,” said Upper Perk coach Tom Hontz. “This was the first time all season we had a semblance of our offense. Logan had his wheels going tonight and all the moves. And Brady is such a workhorse.”

“We showed them we can drive the ball down the field,” said Thompson, who gave credit to his offensive line. “That was our game plan. Run it down their throats. Smash-mouth football.”

Pottstown got off to a good start when Thomas burst 36 yards on the night’s first play from scrimmage and the Trojans marched to the Indian 29 yard line. But Zach Schwartz intercepted a pass and Upper Perk drove 88 yards the other way for a 6-0 advantage. Simmon carried the ball seven times on the drive for 53 yards and finished it off with a 1-yard plunge.

The Indians hurt themselves with penalties on their next two possessions and Pottstown’s Dillon Mayes picked off a pass late in the half. Trojans drove to the nine, but UP’s Gavin Weiss intercepted a pass in the end zone to protect the 6-0 lead.

“We went into halftime, we were a little disappointed,” said Thompson. “We wanted to run the ball. That’s why the penalties hurt so much.”

But the Indians drove 53 and 58 yards to start the second half with Thompson running in from four and 42 yards for a 19-0 lead with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.

“Our goal was to come out and keep pounding the ball,” said Hontz. “Our running game was able to wear them down.”

“Them scoring right away in the second half hurt,” said Pottstown coach Jeff Delaney.

The Trojans had good field position on their first two drives of the second half, but lost the ball on downs the first time after driving to the Indian 36 and then again when they failed to convert a 4th-and-1 play at the Upper Perk 40.

“That hurts,” said Delaney. “We couldn’t punch it in. We killed ourselves with penalties and missed opportunities. As soon as we get moving, we lose it.”

Upper Perk ran the ball 50 times for a total of 272 yards. Simmon was playing for the first time since the first half of the season opener against Boyertown.

“We’ve been saving him because we wanted him 100 percent,” said Hontz.

Thompson also caught three passes and recovered a fumble on offense and one on defense.

“On both sides of the ball … what a workhorse,” said Hontz.

Logan Watkins booted a 23-yard field goal to make it 22-0 midway through the final quarter and Jayden White snatched a blocked punt out of the air and took it a short distance into the end zone with 14 seconds left for the 29-0 final.

“It was nice to win on Homecoming,” Hontz added. “If we eliminate the mistakes and remain healthy, we can be competitive.”

“Our defense really stepped up,” said Thompson. “We were a little bit nervous in the beginning. It was definitely good to get this win. Good for the team.”

On the other hand, the Trojans will have to regroup.

“That’s what we talked about,” said Delaney. “Hit the reset button. You can’t dwell on this.”