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By RICK FORTENBAUGH
FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. - At first glance, the undefeated Pennsbury High School football team’s 26-6 victory over Council Rock North Saturday night might look like another routine win for the Falcons.
With the triumph, Pennsbury (5-0) won its fifth straight game by at least two touchdowns and improved to 2-0 in the Suburban One National League. Pennsbury has now outscored the opposition by a staggering margin of 156-28 and is off to its first 5-0 start since its last undefeated season in 1985.
That’s how it appears on the surface. What actually transpired was downright bizarre at times and bordered on the surreal. Consider some of the following events that unfolded in front of a big homecoming crowd at Falcon Field:
•The game was delayed for nearly 50 minutes early in the first quarter because of lightning bolts in the area.
•The two teams combined for a staggering 228 penalty yards, including a mind-numbing 150 yards on 14 flags against Pennsbury.
“I hope that was a school record,’’ said Pennsbury coach Galen Snyder. “I’ve never seen anything like it.’’
•With time winding down in the fourth quarter a fog began enveloping the field, which was probably just as well because by then everyone had seen enough of a game that at times was just downright ugly.
“With all the penalties and everything, we just couldn’t get any rhythm,’’ said Snyder of a game that lasted nearly three and a half hours.
Council Rock coach Tom Coates also reflected on the multitude of penalties, but for a somewhat different reason.
“I think our defense came through with a great effort against a great offensive team, but I’m embarrassed at what happened,’’ he said. “All week long we talked to our players about being disciplined.
“Instead we had two really stupid penalties (including a personal foul) that extended two of their scoring drives. I’m embarrassed how are team played.’’
The strange thing about the marathon is it actually got off a rousing start when Dante Devine exploded 81 yards into the Rock North end zone on the opening kickoff. Devine took the ball straight up the middle and then completely juked an Indian tackler out of his spikes around midfield.
“I don’t remember a lot of what happened, but I saw a big hole and just went to it,’’ said Devine. “All I had to do was beat the kicker.’’
After Rock North drove into Pennsbury territory and was forced to punt, the Falcons took over on their own 3-yard line. Two running plays later, the game was halted by lightning, resulting in the fans wandering around for nearly an hour.
“The coaches yelled at us a lot,’’ replied Devine when asked what it was like in the locker room during the lengthy delay. “Some of the guys were goofing around, and the coaches kept saying we had to stay focused.’’
Apparently the warnings worked because when play resumed Pennsbury kept right on rolling. In a continuation of its first offensive possession, the Falcons marched 97 yards on 14 plays and scored on a 1-yard plunge by Devine.
Set up by a fumble recovery by Davonte Washington after the ball was jarred loose from a Rock North receiver, Pennsbury got its third touchdown on the last play of the first quarter. Once again it was Devine with the touchdown honors on another 1-yard dive in which he leaped over the pile.
Whether Pennsbury got complacent at this point or the Rock North defense found its footing is hard to say. Whatever happened, that was pretty much it for the Pennsbury offense, which was called for one holding call after another.
Council Rock North meanwhile, began working its way back into the game when it took over at the Falcon 22-yard line following a fumble. Indian quarterback Tyler Hamilton (14-for-32, 102 yards) completed two passes on this short drive before connecting with Tyler Bostain on a 7-yard scoring strike over the middle.
A key moment in the game ensued when Rock North forced a punt and then marched to the Pennsbury 3-yard line in the last minute of the first half. On fourth down, however, Falcon defensive end Teddy Holcombe batted down a pass, ending the Indians’ last good chance to inject a lot of drama.
The second half seemed to last forever and was void of much action other than an endless succession of penalty flags.
Pennsbury got its fourth touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Devine scored his fourth touchdown, this time on a 10-yard burst up the middle. The last TD was set up by an interception by Washington and a 13-yard pass to Joe Brown by junior quarterback Brandon Pepper, who did a great job on the play of avoiding a sack with a cross-field scramble.
Once again, it was a strong defensive effort by a Pennsbury first-team defense that has yielded just two touchdowns and 16 points all season. Eric Williams also had an interception in the second half and Holcombe recorded a key sack.
Although Devine failed to reach the 100-yard mark for the first time this season, Pennsbury did manage to grind out 268 rushing yards as a team.
Still, the big topic following the game was the rash of penalties.
“I’m not sure why that happened.’’ said Snyder, whose team had been relatively penalty free for much of the season. “We’ll clean it up, though.’’
NOTES: In an interesting side note, Pennsbury was forced to go for two-point conversions following every touchdown because kicker Corte Rumph was with the soccer team. Rumph did show up in the fourth quarter after the soccer team returned to the school and quickly got into his football uniform. ... The loss ended a Rock North three-game winning streak. .. Pennsbury has now beaten Rock North five straight times with the last Indian victory coming in 1999.
PENNSBURY 26, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7
Counci Rock North (3-2) North 0 6 0 0 - 6
Pennsbury (5-0) 20 0 0 6 - 26
P-Devine 81 yard kickoff return (Devine run)
P-Devine 1 run (pass failed)
P-Devine 1 run (run failed)
CRN-Bostain 7 pass from Hamilton (pass failed)
P-Devine 10 run (pass failed)
TEAM STATISTICS
CRN P
First Downs 10 13
Yards Rushing 82 268
Yards Passing 102 27
Total Offense 181 295
Comp. Passes, Int 13-24-3 2-7-0
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 8-78 14-150
Punts-Avg. 3-38.5 3-34
Sacked-Yds. Lost 3-24 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING:
CRN-Tyler Hamilton 14-32; Lee Marvel 9-33; Brandon Cottom 3-17.
P-Dante Devine 19-89, 3 TDs; Joe Brown 9-84; Jeff Fisher 4-15; Brandon Pepper 13-41; Max Berger 6-34; Jeff Prine 1-4.
PASSING
CRN-Hamilton 13-24-3, 100 yards, 1 TD.
P-Passing: Pepper 2-7-0, 27 yards.
RECEIVING
CRN-Tyler Bostain 4-41, 1 TD; Brandon Cottom 4-22; Charlie Anastasi 1-13; Matt Hatheway 2-1; Lee Marvel 1-22; JackWorthington, 1-3
P-Joe Brown 1-13; Eric Williams 1-14.
INTERCEPTIONS:
CRN-None
P-Davonte Washington, Eric Williams 1.
Counci Rock North (3-2) North 0 6 0 0 - 6
Pennsbury (5-0) 20 0 0 6 - 26
P-Devine 81 yard kickoff return (Devine run)
P-Devine 1 run (pass failed)
P-Devine 1 run (run failed)
CRN-Bostain 7 pass from Hamilton (pass failed)
P-Devine 10 run (pass failed)
TEAM STATISTICS
CRN P
First Downs 10 13
Yards Rushing 82 268
Yards Passing 102 27
Total Offense 181 295
Comp. Passes, Int 13-24-3 2-7-0
Fumbles-lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-yards 8-78 14-150
Punts-Avg. 3-38.5 3-34
Sacked-Yds. Lost 3-24 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING:
CRN-Tyler Hamilton 14-32; Lee Marvel 9-33; Brandon Cottom 3-17.
P-Dante Devine 19-89, 3 TDs; Joe Brown 9-84; Jeff Fisher 4-15; Brandon Pepper 13-41; Max Berger 6-34; Jeff Prine 1-4.
PASSING
CRN-Hamilton 13-24-3, 100 yards, 1 TD.
P-Passing: Pepper 2-7-0, 27 yards.
RECEIVING
CRN-Tyler Bostain 4-41, 1 TD; Brandon Cottom 4-22; Charlie Anastasi 1-13; Matt Hatheway 2-1; Lee Marvel 1-22; JackWorthington, 1-3
P-Joe Brown 1-13; Eric Williams 1-14.
INTERCEPTIONS:
CRN-None
P-Davonte Washington, Eric Williams 1.
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