FOOTBALL: Cardinals Thump Truman High, 51-13

LEVITTOWN -- When Harry Truman's first play from scrimmage resulted in an 80-yard touchdown run, Upper Dublin senior quarterback Andrew Derr called it a "punch in the face."

The Cardinals punched back quickly and extra hard, and never looked back on their way to a 51-13 throttling in a Suburban One League non-conference road game.

"That was just, 'OK, this is a football game,'" Derr said of the early score. "We were a little cocky in the beginning. We turned around and scored, then kept scoring. We wanted to come out with a big win."

The three-year starter connected with senior fullback Jino Park for two of his four touchdown passes, throwing for a total of 188 yards. Park also ran for a score.

 After Truman's Bobby Hill raced down the middle for the opening score, the Cardinals quickly drove down the field and Derr found Park from four yards out.

"We're a veteran squad and we didn't panic," Cardinals head coach Bret Stover said. "We took a deep breath and went about our business. That's what I'm most proud of. It didn't steamroll. In the past, something like that happened, and it could be 20-0."

Khalid Weems caught Derr's next strike, a 44-yard bomb with 1:45 left in the first quarter. Not finished, Upper Dublin then recovered a fumble deep in Truman territory, and Derr hit Park with a 12-yard pass.

A Park seven-yard run and a 33-yard field goal by Eric Boyer put the Cardinals up 30-7 at halftime. They had gained 264 yards of total offense, nearly double the 133 yards by Truman.

"The offensive line moved people," Park said. "They really opened up holes. So I thank them. We were watching film all week and practicing hard. It worked out well."

Upper Dublin increased its lead to 44-7 with two third-quarter scores. Derr's final pass of the night was a 23-yard toss to Chris Naughton, who finished the play by reaching the end zone. Another Truman fumble then led to a one-yard run by Zach Walsh.

Then it was Hill's turn again, this time a 64-yard scamper that gave Truman its second and final score. Tyler Haubach finished the Cardinals onslaught with a 36-yard run.

Minutes after the game, Stover and his coaches were already speaking of next Friday's home game against rival Cheltenham in the start of league play.

"I want you guys to wake up [Saturday] morning thinking of three things," one coach said. "Cheltenham, Cheltenham and Cheltenham."

Players didn't need a reminder from last season, when they beat the Panthers 27-20 in double overtime.

"This game is more important because it's this season," Park said. "We want to make the best of it because it's our senior season and it's opening week [of conference games]. They'll want to beat us, so we want to be ready."

Derr will be ready and will focus on all things Cheltenhamin practice. Stover expects nothing less from his captain and leader.

"The other kids look to him," Stover said. "He's grown up in the program and knows how to run the offense. We're on the same page so often and I trust him. It's like I've polished everything up and given him the keys, then he has to drive it."