Falcons' Second Half Stops Indians, by Dan Dunkin PhillyBurbs.com

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By Dan Dunkin, Staff Writer

FALLS — Early mistakes put Pennsbury in a deep hole last week against league-leading Abington, and the Falcons, though fighting gamely, could never dig out of it.

Saturday at Pennsbury's homecoming, the same thing was happening again, this time against resurgent Council Rock North, the Suburban One League National Conference's most improved team.

A fumbled opening kickoff and a slew of penalties put the Falcons behind at halftime, and although the hole wasn't as deep as the Abington game — it was a two-point CR North lead — the concerns were prevalent among a big crowd at Falcon Field.

Then senior Adam Lewis, quick as a hiccup, helped the Falcons change the game rapidly.

The second-half opening kickoff got away from CR North's Ferguson Amo, Lewis recovered the ball at the Indians' 10-yard line, and another upset for the Indians — they shocked Neshaminy two weeks ago — started getting away from them.

While North hung around throughout the second half with Pennsbury holding a tenuous four-point lead, Lewis closed it out for the Falcons, flying through a big hole for a 62-yard touchdown that, with 3:44 left in the fourth quarter, sealed a 19-8 Pennsbury win.

It kept the Falcons (6-2 overall, 4-1 in the SOL National) in second place with Council Rock South (though the Falcons defeated the Golden Hawks), while North — 1-9 a year ago — fell to 4-4 overall, 3-2 in the SOL National.

"Last week, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot against Abington, and I think's that's what happened tonight in the first half," said Lewis, who rushed for 114 yards on 10 carries. "I have a feeling if we get those things remedied, it's off to the races for the Falcons."

CR North's defense has improved dramatically from last season, but Pennsbury did stop itself occasionally with penalties in the first half — eight of them for 52 yards. At halftime, the Indians had only 43 yards of total offense and two first downs, yet had a two-point lead.

After recovering the fumble on the opening kickoff at the Pennsbury 35, the Indians, aided by a roughing-the-passer penalty, punched it in on quarterback Trevor Guzy's sneak. A.J. Nielsen's two-point conversion run made it 8-0.

But three interceptions thrown by Guzy would quell North's momentum.

Following Tony Donovan's diving pick at the CR North 45, the Falcons got a touchdown on quarterback Bruce Campbell's 1-yard sneak on fourth-and-goal. The two-point conversion pass was incomplete.

CR North had a great opportunity when the Falcons fumbled on their own 25 in the second quarter, but on fourth-and-six from the 21, Pennsbury linebacker Shawn Pepper intercepted.

Lewis' recovery of the fumbled second-half kickoff set up power back Daquan Mack's go-ahead 2-yard TD. While that was a gift, the Indians' defense made the Falcons — who, like CR North, punted seven times — earn most everything else.

"Their defense is tough, no doubt about it," Lewis said.

"They are much improved," Pennsbury coach Galen Snyder said.

Mack pounded for 70 yards on 19 carries, and Campbell made some key runs as well. And with the field position battle crucial late in the game, Pennsbury's defense, very good virtually all season, made key stops, the biggest coming on Charlie Fisher's interception with 7:06 left near midfield.

"Early in the week, we were still getting over the Abington loss," Snyder said. "As we got to game time, it's homecoming, and the kids were really amped up. We found a middle ground in the second half.

"Our defense has been playing well the whole year. They don't give up a long drive."

Scoring Summary
CRN-Guzy 1 run (Nielsen run)
P-Campbell 1 run (pass failed)
P-Mack 2 run (run failed)
P-Lewis 62 run (Kniaziewicz kick)

Team Statistics

Individual Statistics

Council Rock North

Rushing:Guzy 8-15, TD; Nielsen 4-14; Garboski 3-9; Worrell 1-9; Sroba 2-8; Amo 1-2; Devine 1-2

Passing:Guzy 10-21-3, 50 yards

Receiving:Nielsen 3-0; J. Yardley 2-16; Sroba 2-12; Devine 1-8; Amo 1-7; McAlister 1-7

Interceptions: None.

Pennsbury

Rushing:Lewis 10-114, TD; Mack 19-70, TD; Campbell 7-38, TD; Snorweah 7-11; Pepper 1-(-2)

Passing:Campbell 1-3-0, 29 yards

Receiving:Hamacher 1-29

Interceptions: Donovan, S. Pepper, Fisher