When the big yellow bus doors opened and Upper Perkiomen disembarked, it was to be the only stop the Indians would find on Friday night. Only some unscheduled pyrotechnics could halt Pottsgrove as they rolled in their home opener, 67-7. A bruising running game and a multitude of mistakes doomed the Tribe as soon as the field lights came on.
Junior running back Mark Dukes rushed for 244 yards and 4 touchdowns to lead the Falcons (2-1, 2-0 conference), with senior fullback Robby Curtin tacking on 116 yards and 2 touchdowns of his own. Pottsgrove steamrolled the Upper Perk defense to the tune of 484 yards behind strong offensive line play.
Tackles Madison O'Connor and Scott Schollenberger, guards Eric Bonenberger and Dylan Pritchard, and center Zach Birch seemed to be playing with dynamite, blasting holes in the Indian's line all evening. So dominant was the ground game that only one passing play (a 16 yard completion from quarterback Tory Hudgins to tight end Steve Ambs) was called. Grove did not uncork a punt until the starters were pulled, as the first team offense scored on every one of their possessions.
The opening drive set the pace for the evening, fueled by long runs from Dukes and Curtin. A 25 yard scramble from Dukes set up the first score of the game, a short plunge by Curtin.
Penalties plagued Upper Perk, whether on offense or defense. Already under duress from the running game, piles of personal fouls constantly kept the Tribe in a hole. On offense, false starts and illegal procedures frequently halted whatever momentum quarterback Dylan Wesley and the Indians could muster.
One of the few miscues for the Maroon and White was on special teams, as out of bounds kick offs gave Upper Perk the upper hand in the field position battle. While the strategy kept the ball out of dangerous returner Ron Gillespie's hands, it did provide the Indians with ample opportunity to score.
"I thought we had a great scheme for Gillespie," said Falcons head coach Rick Pennypacker.
Despite the solid field position advantage in the first half, the combination of penalties and the swarming Pottsgrove defense kept the Indians off the board until the second quarter, when tailback John Olson scored the only Tribe touchdown of the night. Upper Perk struggled in the red zone all evening, failing to convert fourth downs and turning over the ball inside the 25.
The Falcons scored a flurry of quick strike touchdowns on explosive running plays to open the game. A 48 yard scamper around the right end by Dukes led to a score on Grove's second drive of the night, followed by a spectacular 74 yard run by Curtin on the next possession. After another out of bounds kick, Wesley and the Indians took over on their own 35. Upper Perk looked like they could potentially close the gap, marching until Wesley was intercepted by corner back Johnny Fowler. Dukes split the defense for a 78 yard touchdown on the very next play, and the floodgates were officially open. Hudgins scored a 17 yard touchdown to top off the Falcon's 31 point, unanswered first half assault.
After the Olson touchdown, the Indians had one last gasp: an on-sides kick recovered by Pottsgrove's Jeff Adams. The following drive, the Falcons found themselves facing a fourth and 2. Going for it, Dukes again found the end zone on a 26 yard back-breaker.
The 6-foot, 177-pound running back's game was similar to the old Atari classic, "Breakout": he would hit the wall over and over again before finding a hole and disappearing down the field. Dukes ran down, around and through the Indian's defensive line, with Curtin bulling ahead for further punishment.
"Dukes will tell you that I'm on his butt everyday," Pennypacker said. "And tonight's the first night I've seen him actually do what we want him to do."
The defense began to pressure Wesley late in the second quarter, with Ambs recording two sacks on consecutive plays. Another Hudgins touchdown was followed with an interception by safety DJ Ludy as Pottsgrove entered halftime on top, 46-7.
It was fitting that the Indians' marching band played a program based on the story of Noah, as the scoring deluge continued after the teams retook the field.
Receiving the ball to start the second half, Upper Perk again stumbled, turning the ball over on a fumble during a must score drive. Recovered by Curran Wilson, another Dukes touchdown put the final nail in the coffin for whatever miracle comeback hopes the Indians could imagine.
The Pottsgrove offense was finally stopped in the fourth, as firecrackers set off behind the end zone brought the game to a screeching halt. As the smoke drifted up into sight, players and cheerleaders crowded into the far corners of the field until the situation could be assessed. Security and the officiating crew responded immediately, and the game continued on without further interruption.
While a resounding conference win for the Falcons, Pennypacker is already preparing to travel next week and play another PAC-10 foe in Boyertown.
"Boyertown's a great football team," Pennypacker said. "We'll worry about them Sunday. We're going to enjoy this one tonight and tomorrow, and we'll come back on Sunday and get ready for Boyertown."
9-17-11 Editor's note: This article was corrected to identify Ron Gillespie in a remark made by Rick Pennypacker.
