Upper Dublin defeated Council Rock North in SOL football action Saturday. Photos provided courtesy of Geanine Jamison Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Stats provided courtesy of Intelligencer/Courier. For additional football stats and coverage, visit the Intelligencer (https://www.theintell.com/sports/high-school) and Courier Times (https://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports/high-school/)
UPPER DUBLIN 40, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
A lot of things went right for the Flying Cardinals on Saturday. Conversely, a lot of things went wrong for the Indians, who struggled with the Flying Cardinals’ short kickoffs.
“Three times we kicked off to them, and three times in a row they fumbled it to us,” UD coach Bret Stover said. “We did not want to kick to their number 15 (Gavin) Papp. He’s a pretty good athlete.
“I saw him take a draw play against Truman, and he outran everybody, and Truman’s got some kids that can run, so that was part of our game plan to not kick him the ball and let him be electric. Turnovers were key. We were just fortunate that we were in the right place at the right time.”
The Cardinals’ success went well beyond benefitting from Rock North turnovers.
“We played really well,” Stover said. “We put it all together again. All three phases played excellent.”
Colin Sullivan put the Cardinals on the scoreboard when he scored on a three-yard keeper, and UD led 7-0 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, the Cardinals blew the game wide open with 33 unanswered points. Back-to-back O’Sullivan touchdown passes in a four-minute span gave the Cardinals a 19-0 lead – his first a 10-yard TD pass to Griffin Pensabene and his second a three-yard touchdown connection with Chris Kohlbrenner.
The final four minutes of the first half belonged to Nyfise McIntyre who had three touchdowns on runs of three, 13 and 60 yards to send Upper Dublin into halftime with a 40-0 lead.
“Dom Paone, a freshman, played really well on defense and special teams for us,” Stover said. “He recovered one of the kicks they dropped.
“Griffin Pensabene covered a kick – the one they returned, and he blew it up. Tristain Cairnes caused a fumble on the first play they actually ran the ball. Those were three good plays from special teams and defense.”
Also, for the defense, DJ Cerisier had an interception.
On the offensive side of the ball, McIntyre finished the game with 125 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries. O’Sullivan completed 15-of-23 passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
Others also contributed for the Cardinals.
“A really nice punt return by Chris Kohlbrenner set up a touchdown – we got the ball at the 15 going in,” Stover said. “We had some really good blocks from our tight end Dan Nardo. After that, it was just an all-around convincing team win.”
Upper Dublin (7-2, 5-1 SOL) was scheduled to play Hatboro-Horsham on Friday, but the Hatters forfeited their final three games. The Cardinals are seeded fourth in the latest District One 5A power rankings.
Gavin Papp’s 91 rushing yards on 16 carries led the Indians, who managed just 127 yards of total offense.
Council Rock North (2-7, 1-5) will close out its season against neighboring rival Council Rock South on Friday.
Upper Dublin 7-33-0-0 40
Council Rock North 0-0-0-0 0
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