Rams Trounce Warriors to Improve to 6-1

The Spring-Ford football team picked up another win on the road on Saturday over the Methacton Warriors, 26-14. The Rams crashed the Warriors' Homecoming festivities with the win, while advancing to a 6-1 record.

Spring-Ford was never behind in the contest, although it took a while to get a rhythm going. Part of that, said Brubaker and his players, had to do with the muddy field conditions.

"That wasn’t too good," said sophomore running back Jarred Jones. "It was real muddy. We like to bounce it back on cutbacks, but couldn’t really do that. We worked on it and picked it back up in the second half."

That they did. The Rams progressively pushed the ball harder down the field both on the ground and through the air. Jones had three touchdowns on the day, two of which came in the fourth quarter. He rushed 16 times for 131 yards.

"The line did everything," he said. "We came in here and said we had to pick it up, so we relied on each other and that’s what we did."

At the half, the Rams led 14-7, with Jones' score and a one-yard rush by senior Yusef Lundi. However, the Warriors opened the third quarter up with a seven-minute drive, knotting the score up at 14.

"We were flat," head coach Chad Brubaker said. "But, give them credit, they made some good play calls. They just kept the drive alive. I know they were trying to run time off the clock and they did that."

At the end of the third quarter, the Rams held Methacton to a three-and-out with the score still tied. They were awarded the ball on their own 20 after a punt resulting in a touchback. The quarter ended with a five-yard reception by receiver Andrew Scanlan.

On the very next play inn the fourth, quarterback Hank Coyne threw up a pass just a bit too high to receiver Nick Ondo, and the ball was intercepted and returned to the 29 yard-line, giving the Warriors a short field. They couldn't score; however, and were forced to punt again.

"I’m not sure what play propelled us a little bit, but after the interception in the beginning of the fourth quarter, we had that good defensive stand and stopped them and that was huge," Brubaker said. "After that, we played with so much more emotion. I guess if there’s such a good thing as an interception, that’d be it."

Jones ran his second touchdown in for 23 yards with 4:24 left in the game. The score was 20-14 after the extra point failed on a botched snap.

Methacton had yet another opportunity to drive down and score, but on fourth and 15, Scanlan picked off quarterback Brandon Bossard, returning the ball all the way down to the Warriors' eight.

"Ball was in the air and I just knew they were doing a stick route," Scanlan said. "I thought I’d come up a little bit. I was playing free. I came up, hopped the pass and when the ball was in the air, I was actually thinking ‘He hasn’t thrown a pick all year.’ Me and Bossard are really good friends. We grew up playing together."

Jones punched the ball in for eight yards and his final score of the day. The extra point was no good after the hold was botched.

"Usually we’re perfect," said senior kicker . "We were 34-for-34 before this game. We knew it was going to be hard this game because of the conditions. Bad field, muddy, wind. So, we had to deal with that. We knew we weren’t going to make them all."

O'Hara kicked three touchbacks in the game on kickoffs, aiding the Rams in the field position game.

"My average is in the five yard line range, but the extra wind helped me out and I got some easy touchbacks," O'Hara said.

Methacton couldn't muster up two scores in the 1:34 they had left to play, awarding the Rams the 26-14 victory. Next week, Spring-Ford against conference rival Owen J. Roberts. Scanlan and the senior group will see its last Homecoming.

"Owen J’s always a big game for us," Scanlan said. "I can’t wait to play. I can’t wait for the festivities this week. But, when [game time] roles around, you've got to get ready to play. You can’t take any team in the PAC-10 lightly though. Hopefully everyone has fun and maybe I’ll get voted Homecoming King. We’ll see what happens."

Spring-Ford Statistics

Hank Coyne - 12/20, 126 yards, 2 INT

Jarred Jones - 16 rush, 131 yards, 3 TD

Andrew Scanlan - 1 rush, 16 yeards, 5 rec, 24 yards, INT

Xavier Ingram - 2 rush, 3 yards

Darryl Branch - 3 rec, 22 yards

Yusef Lundi - 2 rush, 3 yards, TD

R.J. Sheldon - 1 rec, 10 yards

- 2 rec, 21 yards

Ty Yazian - 2 rec, 49 yards