Conestoga Mows Down Lower Merion, 35-10

There is a standard that John Vogan has built at . The Pioneers’ football coach has come to expect success—a byproduct of the high standards Vogan sets for himself as a coach. There is a trickle down aspect that his players through the years have picked up.

It’s why beating Lower Merion 35-10 in a Central League game was satisfying on Thursday, though not exactly up to the standards the Pioneers keep for themselves. Conestoga improved to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the Central League, while Lower Merion fell to 2-4 and 0-4.

The Pioneers are a young team that’s quickly maturing, and has plans for bigger things later this year. It’s why they need to clean up some of the misses that occurred in the second half against Lower Merion. Conestoga’s defense was exceptional all afternoon, holding dangerous Aces’ tailback Ernest Pendleton in check for much of the afternoon.

But Conestoga knows it has to play better against an exceptional Marple Newtown team next Friday if the Pioneers plan on staying in the hunt for the Central League title.

“We need to put two halves together, which we didn’t do today, we do expect a higher standard and there were points we left on the field,” said Pioneers’ junior wide receiver Andrew DeStefano, who again was exceptional with an interception, a touchdown and a 40-yard punt return that led to another touchdown. We’re a young offense and we can’t let up.”

Senior Adam Baynard was also exceptional for the Pioneers, rushing for his first varsity touchdown and finishing with a career-best 132 yards on 18 carries. Baynard’s explosive speed could make him a valuable asset as the season progresses.

“I’ve been waiting for my chance, and it came today,” Baynard said. “I hope I can get more playing time, but whatever my team and coaching staff asks me to do, I’ll do.”

Conestoga took a 28-3 lead into halftime and scored on four of its first five possessions. Baynard had 93 yards rushing on just five carries by halftime, most coming on a 75-yard run late in the first half.

The Pioneers started well when Jake Carr intercepted a pass on the first play of the game. Four plays later, quarterback Joe Viviano hit Riley Pritchett with a 12-yard touchdown pass. DeStefano’s 40-yard punt return set Conestoga’s second score, a two-yard Viviano quarterback sneak.

Lower Merion, meanwhile, couldn’t muster much offense at all. The Aces didn’t achieve their first first down of the game until early in the second quarter. By then, they were trailing 21-0.

Viviano scored on a four-yard run with 4:30 left in the half. Lower Merion kicker Dan Moyer put the Aces’ only points on the board in the first half with a 31-yard field goal.

Ernest Pendleton added another late score for Lower Merion when he rolled through Conestoga’s second-team defense for a 63-yard run barely touched. Pendleton finished with 82 yards on 11 carries, but had just 19 yards on 10 carries against the Conestoga first-team defense.