GAME 3
GAME 3
GAME 3
Line paves way for Rams

By: ED KRACZ
The Intelligencer

EAST ROCKHILL - It didn't take very long for Pennridge coach Randy Cuthbert and his staff to see something had to be done about the Rams' offensive line.

The Rams had just rushed for 11 yards - 11 yards - in a season-opening loss to Pottsgrove, so the tinkering began. Senior co-captain Andrew Rice was moved from the quick tackle spot he manned last year to center, and sophomore James Worthington was inserted at quick tackle.

And just like that, Pennridge's rushing game took flight.

The Rams strong-armed their way by Plymouth Whitemarsh, 42-6, Thursday night at Poppy Yoder Field, thanks to Ian Walbridge's 218 yards on the ground and the team's 388 rushing yards overall. Just to keep the Colonials (0-3) from stacking the box to try to stop the run, junior quarterback Kyle Peters threw two touchdowns to senior wide receiver Drew Smith.

But it was the work of Walbridge and the offensive line that gave Pennridge its second straight win following its 34-21 setback to Pottsgrove, with a date against Archbishop Wood on tap for next Friday at Wissahickon.

"Rice is probably one of smartest kids on team," said Cuthbert. "For a lineman, he's very athletic. + He's smart enough to make all the calls on the fly and is really our best center. He's really been the anchor."

While Cuthbert and his assistants did their tinkering, the linemen themselves just kept working to get better.

"We worked on technique and got better in practice," said the 6-foot, 218-pound Rice.

Time and practice has helped Ben Knipe adjust from being a fullback, which he as last year, to guard, and junior Cory Cowdery to continue improving.

Last week, the line sprung the running game for 279 yards in a shutout win over Bensalem, with Jesse Knepp leading the way with 159 of those yards. This week it was Walbridge's turn, although Knepp added 67 yards on 11 carries against PW.

Walbridge ripped off a 54-yard touchdown run on just the Rams' second play of the game, then added a 60-yard scoring burst on the fifth play of the second half. Pennridge also put together a 99-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 3-yard TD run from Pete Leatherman, in building a 28-0 halftime lead.

"Our line had an incredible game tonight," Walbridge said. "All the running backs owe a lot to the line tonight."


PENNRIDGE42
PW                 6
GAME SUMMARY
PENNRIDGE42
PW                 6
Plymouth Whitemarsh     0   0   0   6    -6

Pennridge       7  21   7   7   -42


P - Walbridge 54 run (Dan Caya kick)

P - Leatherman 3 run (Caya kick)

P - Smith 22 pass from Peters (Caya kick)

P - Smith 6 pass from Peters (Caya kick)

P - Walbridge 60 run (Caya kick)

P - Peters 4 run (Caya kick)

PW - Brown 9 pass from O'Neill (kick failed)
RAMS  BULLDOZE COLONIALS
GAME STATISTICS

PW P

First Downs 5 16

Yards Rushing   98       388

Yards Passing   31       46

Total Offense            129      434

Comp. Passes, Int           4-11-0   5-7-0

Fumbles-lost                      0-0      1-0

Penalties-yards                  3-25    7-41

Punts-Avg.                        5-33.4  1-15.0

Sacked-Yds. Lost               1-5        0-0

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Plymouth Whitemarsh

Rushing: O'Neill 6-43; Jackson 9-28; Blythe 4-11; Brown 2-11; Nieves 3-4.

Passing: O'Neill 4-11-0, 31 yards, 1 TD.

Receiving: Phillips 2-19; Brown 2-12, 1 TD.

Pennridge

Rushing: Walbridge 14-218, 2 TDs; Knepp 11-67; Littrel 6-46; Leatherman 2-24, 1 TD; Peters 4-22; Reimel 1-12; Peters 1-4, 1 TD; Marrero 1-1; Moyer 1-(-6).

Passing: Peters 5-7-0, 46 yards, 2 TDs.

Receiving: Smith 3-37, 2 TDs; Walbridge 1-6; McNally 1-3.

Interceptions: None.-