GAME SEVEN

GAME SEVEN

GAME SEVEN

Rams roll to much-needed win

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter

PERKASIE – The Pennridge football team has not allowed an opponent to score two touchdowns in a game since late September, yet the Rams had a losing record (1-2) in that time span to show for it. The defense continued its dominance on Friday night against a young Hatboro-Horsham (2-5, 0-4) team and got its first win in two weeks, a 35-8 rout, to show for it.

The Rams (4-3, 1-2) put pressure on the Hatters’ quarterback Matt Hollenbeck all night. Brandon Cope and Jake Newman each registered a sack, but nearly every time the Hatters attempted to throw, there was a Rams’ defender breathing down the senior’s neck. The play of the entire defensive line, led by Cope and Anthony Fecondo has given the Rams a chance to win almost every game this season.

“The defense is coming to together,” Fecondo said. “The ends Newman, (John) Dubyk, and Cory Cowdery next to me at tackle are playing well. We are big and skilled and we have good coaching to help us put it all together.”

While a lot of teams have concentrated on stopping the all-leaguer Cope, teams now have realized they also have to account for Fecondo on each play. His six-foot-two frame next to Cowdery’s 250-pound body has contained some of the top running attacks in the area.

“Bob Rosenberger has done a great job getting his guys on defense in good positions,” Rams’ coach Randy Cuthbert said. “Teams try to stop Brandon and that allows others to come in freely, but Cope is like a second coach on the field making all the checks. Fecondo did a good job as a 10th grader and he has stepped his level up this season. He is a lot bigger and stronger and he has helped free up Brandon at times.”

The Hatters have rotated the ballcarriers all season long and sophomore Travis Young was given the chance to show what he can do against one of the tougher teams to run on in the league. Young fought past early struggles and broke out in the second half to finish with 71 yards, including the Hatters’ lone score in the fourth quarter, a 15-yard dart to pay dirt.

“They did a lot of blitzing and we could not pick it up,” Young said. “It feels good to get the ball and show what I can do.”

While the Hatters could only muster 38 total yards of offense in the first half and 76 yards before the Rams’ starters were pulled, it was a lesson that needed to be learned for a team that is starting so many underclassmen. Even a tough loss has aspects of the game they can build from in practice to get better for the remainder of the season and beyond.

“We have six sophomores starting, which you do not see a lot,” Young said. “We are all going to keep working hard in practice and try to get better.”

While Cope’s presence was felt on defense, his work on the other side of the ball was just as significant in the Rams’ resurrection. After suffering back-to-back heartbreakers against Central Bucks East and Souderton, Cope found the end zone three times and his running mate Jesse Knepp scored twice. Knepp finished with 145 yards on the ground, while Cope’s rushing and receiving yardage added up to 144 yards.

“The offensive line executed at a high level tonight,” Cuthbert said. “We tried to stay positive at practice and point out things that were hurting us. The backs made the most of the holes.”

GAME SUMMARY

Hatboro-Horsham        0    0     0     8 – 8

Pennridge                      7   14   14   0 – 35

P – Cope 28 yard run (Caya kick)

P – Cope one yard run (Caya kick)

P – Knepp five yard run (Caya kick)

P – Knepp six yard run (Caya kick)

P – Cope five yard run (Caya kick)

HH – Young 15 yard run (Young conversion)

TEAM STATISTICS

H H     Pennridge

First downs                   8                20

Rushing yards              116            272

Passing yards               36              87

Total yards                    152            359

Passing                       3-8-0          4-7-0

Fumbles-lost                 3-2             1-1

Penalties-yards            3-15          5-35

Punts-avg.                    5-27            0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING

Hatboro-Horsham – Young 16-71, TD; Murphy 2-17; Ejimonyeugwo 1-14; Dividio 5-12; Saverio 2-8; Kuntz 1-3; Riches 1-1; Hollenbeck 2-(-10).

Pennridge – Knepp 14-145, 2 TD; Cope 13-88, 3 TD; Kim 3-28; C. Peters 3-10; Moore 1-2; K. Peters 3-1; McCabe 1-0; Krvida 1- (-2).

PASSING

Hatboro-Horsham – Hollenbeck 3-7-0, 36; Channing 0-1-0, 0.

Pennridge – K. Peters 4-7-0, 87.

RECEIVING

Hatboro-Horsham – Saverio 1-18; Dividio 1-9; B. Abercrombie 1-9.

Pennridge – Cope 3-56; Ferrier 1-31.

INTERCEPTIONS

Hatboro-Horsham – none

Pennridge – none

SACKS

Hatboro-Horsham – J. Abercrombie, Coyle

Pennridge – Cope, Newman

SEASON STATISTICS