By Scott Huff
Newtown– The Council Rock South version of the twin towers stood tall defensively as the Golden Hawks (3-0) flew to an easy 31-0 win over visiting Pennridge (2-1).The imposing Rock South defensive ends – 6-foot, 4 inch senior Matt Emilius and 6-foot, 5-inch PJ Gallo – dominated the line of scrimmage and limited the Pennridge offense to just 133 yards of total offense – most coming after the Hawks held a 31-0 lead.
“I am extremely proud of how the defense played tonight,” said Emilius – who tips the scales at an athletic 245 pounds. “PJ and I have worked together for the last two years, and we have worked hard.”
“We just try to stop every drive, every play,” said Gallo – who tips the scale at an athletic 230 pounds. “We made some adjustments as the game went on, but we just tried to make plays.”
“The line of scrimmage is where the games are won and lost, and both (Emilius and Gallo) form two great bookends defensively,” said Council Rock head coach Vince Bedesem. “I have to give a lot of credit for the development of those two to our strength and conditioning coach – John Franco.
“We really hit the weights hard in the off season, and the kids lifted the entire year,” added Bedesem. “And I think that has helped us get off to our good start.”
The start of this game came at 4 pm last Thursday when a storm postponed the game until 7:30 pm Monday evening. And with 5:26 left in the second period, Rock South led 7-0 and had the ball at the Pennridge 24-yard line with a fourth-and-four.
“We considered kicking a field goal, but we as a coaching staff decided against it,” said Bedesem. “A blocked field goal is a game changer, and if we didn’t make it we felt good about playing defense.”The fourth down call was a good one as quarterback Billy Fleming threw a perfect spiral to Gallo for a first-and-goal at the ten-yard line.
“We thought that they might throw that slant,” said Pennridge head coach Randy Cuthbert. “We told the kids to watch for the slant, but we didn’t get it covered.”
Rock South capped the scoring drive as Fleming threw a four-yard TD dart to Brian Donnelly. The drive – in real time – took 99 hours, 32 minutes, and 10 seconds.
Rock South put the game out of reach with a touchdown drive to open the third quarter. Fleming threw a 50-yard pass to a wide-open Gallo, and three plays later Fleming scored on a one-yard run.
“We really didn’t play too bad defensively,” said Cuthbert as the Rams held South to just seven first downs. “But they hurt us with the big plays in the passing game.”
Rock South took advantage of a fumbled Pennridge punt to gain great field position at the 15-yard line. The Ram defense, however, stiffened and Hawk place kicker Ben Solis boomed a 27-yard field goal.
CR South took advantage of another short field to score its final touchdown.
Mark Damirgian capped a four play – 11-yard touchdown drive with his second four-yard scoring run. A Ben Solis placement would make the game final at 31-0.
“It is really great to see us coming together as a team,” said Bedesem. “I think that is a testament to our program.”
And so are both Emilius and Gallo.
Newtown (Part Two) - Hatboro-Horsham (2-1) needed two overtimes to defeat the host Council Rock Indians (0-3) – 27-21 - in a thrilling non-league contest between two Suburban One League teams.“For us to be 2-1 at this point of the season is very exciting,” said Hatboro-Horsham head coach Gary Pagliaro. “And this was an exciting game.”
The Hatters clearly had the best player on the field in junior fullback Dom DeFazio. DeFazio – who rushed for a career high 201 yards – scored the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime.
“I just followed the big boys up front,” said DeFazio. “They are the ones that create the holes, and I just go through them.”
DeFazio was playing his first game of the season after suffering a concussion on the second day of summer camp.
“Right now, I am not in the best of shape,” said DeFazio. “But it was great getting back on the field.”
Council Rock North senior Brandon Cottom got back on the field – for just a few moments.
“Brandon tweaked his ankle early in the game, and we felt that it was best for him to come out,” said North head coach Adam Collachi. “He scored that touchdown (five-yard run), but we had to consider what was best both for him and the team.”
The game was tied at 14-14 at halftime, and the Hatters took was looked to be a safe 21-14 lead late in the game after DeFazio scored on a sparkling 40-yard TD run.
With the game seemingly in a safe place for the Hatters, Rock North punt returner Benn Parker darted 70-yards for the game-tying touchdown with just 13.9 seconds left.
“Our sideline really came alive after Benn scored,” said Collachi. “He gave is a chance to win the game.”
The game went into overtime with little success for either team – until DeFazio scored on a four-yard bolt in the second overtime.
The Hatters streamed onto the field – and DeFazio crumpled to the ground in pain under the weight of his teammates.
“It was just a cramp,” said DeFazio as he limped through the post-game handshakes. “Just a cramp.”
Pennridge 0 0 0 0 - 0
CR South 7 6 11 7 - 31
Scoring:
CRS: Mark Damirgian 4 run (Ben Solis kick)
CRS: Brian Donnelly 4 pass from Billy Flemming (kick failed)
CRS: Flemming 1 run (Donnelly run)
CRS: Solis 27 FG
CRS: Damirgian 4 run (Solis kick)
Pennridge CR South
10 First Downs 7
81 Yards Rush 135
52 Yards Pass 119
133 Total Offense 254
4-33 Punts/Avg 3-39
Pennridge
Rushing: Jesse Knepp 15-40; Brandon Cope 5-17; Kyle Peters 12-16; Carter Peters 4-8; Rocky Ferrier 2-0. Totals 38-81
Passing: K. Peters 4-10-1, 52 yards; Knepp 0-1-0. Totals 4-11-1, 52 yards
Receiving: Ferrier 2-24; Cope 1-16; Dylan Moore 1-12. Totals 4-52
Council Rock South
Rushing: Brian Donnelly 8-41; Mark Damirgian 9-37 & 2 TD; Billy Flemming 13-32 & TD; Ryan Whiteley 7-25. Totals 37-135 & 3 TD.
Passing: Flemming 6-9-0, 119 yards & TD.
Receiving: Dennis Chichkin 2-85; PJ Gallo 2-19; Damirgian 1-11; Donnelly 1-4 & TD. Totals 6-119 & TD.
Interceptions: Anthony Alimenti.
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