Upper Dublin defeated Truman 38-7 in a non-league battle Friday night. To view Kim Supko’s game action photos, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Fort Washington – The Truman defensive game plan was to stop the Upper Dublin passing game – and the Tigers did just that as it limited Cardinal standout quarterback Ryan Stover to just four completions and 31 yards. However, it was the Upper Dublin rushing attack that gouged the Truman defense for 361 yards and four rushing scores as the Cardinals soared to a 38-7 victory over the Tigers.
“Truman dropped a lot of guys back into coverage,” said Stover, who showcased some little before seen speed as he rushed for a game-high 136 yards and two touchdowns. “We saw some things on film that we thought we could take advantage of – and we did.
“It really didn’t frustrate me too much to have them drop all those guys back (to take away the pass),” added Stover who did manage to throw a touchdown pass. “All you have to do is look at the final result – we’ll take it.”
“Ryan did a great job calling the game,” said Upper Dublin head coach Bret Stover – father of the quarterback. “He looked over the defense – and he called the whole game from the line of scrimmage.
“We don’t run Ryan a whole lot, but tonight he showed some of the speed that he has worked on in the offseason,” added the coach. “I know he doesn’t get (the speed) from me – he must get it from his mother.”
As impressive as the Cardinal offense was – the Upper Dublin defense was equally remarkable.
“I thought we had a really good game plan on defense,” said coach Stover. “Truman has some weapons and we did some really good things defensively.”
Truman – which had opened the season with an impressive 28-14 victory over West Chester Rustin – was limited to just 46 yards of total offense.
“I thought we did a good job of getting into their backfield,” said Upper Dublin senior Gary Fields III who dominated the defensive line of scrimmage from his nose guard position. “Whatever it takes to win the game.”
“Truman is a tough team – and we respect them,” said Cardinal running back Kalief Lee who rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns. “But we wanted to prove to them that we were the better team.”
Truman entered the game with the idea of avenging a tough loss to Upper Dublin a season ago. And most feel that the Tigers are a legitimate contender for the SOL Continental Conference title.
“This is not what we expected,” said Truman head coach Jon Craig. “We gave an excellent team like Upper Dublin too many chances – and you don’t win games like that.
“There is a lot of season left, and we can still do a lot of good things,” added Craig. “But we still have a lot of work to do.”
Upper Dublin jumped out to a 7-0 first period lead. The Cardinals scored on their first possession when Lee culminated a four play scoring drive with a terrific 29-yard touchdown burst. Senior Todd Spirt added the placement.
Lee scored his second touchdown of the game at the outset of the second period. The scoring play – a seven-yard scoring dash by Lee – was set up by a nifty 27-yard scamper by Stover. Spirt added the placement.
A Truman miscue on a punt gave the Cardinals excellent field position later in the second period. This time the scoring play was a six-yard scoring pass from Stover to Fields. Spirt added the placement to boost the lead to 21-0.
The only score of the game for Truman would come on a defensive touchdown. Senior Maurice Jackson intercepted a pass and jetted 72 yards for a touchdown. Tim Kenny-Schwartz added the PAT, and the Tigers closed to within 21-7 at the intermission.
Upper Dublin would extend the lead to 28-7 in the third period on a brilliant 49-yard touchdown burst by Stover and a PAT by Spirt. The Cardinals upped their lead to 35-7 in the third period on a one-yard sneak by Stover and a PAT by Spirt.
The lone score of the final period came on a booming 31-yard field goal by Spirt.
“Having Todd on the team has changed so much for us this year,” said coach Stover of his transfer kicker from Eastern Regional High School in New Jersey. “Last year we gave up six kickoff returns for touchdowns, but Todd kicks the ball deep and we have been covering well.
“Now we have to put this game behind us,” continued coach Stover. “We get Abington next week – and we have to be ready.”
“Last year we made a nice run after our loss to Upper Dublin,” said Craig. “We can begin that run next week against Bensalem.”
Harry S Truman Tigers 0 7 0 0 - 7
Upper Dublin Cardinals 7 14 14 3 - 38
UD: Kalief Lee 29 run (Todd Spirt kick)
UD: Lee 7 run (Spirt kick)
UD: Gary Fields III 6 pass from Ryan Stover (Spirt kick)
HST: Maurice Jackson 72 interception return (Tim Kenny-Schwartz kick)
UD: Stover 49 run (Spirt kick)
UD: Stover 1 run (Spirt kick)
UD: Spirt 31 FG
Truman Tigers Upper Dublin Cardinals
5 First Downs 16
22 Yards Rushing 361
24 Yards Passing 31
46 Total Offense 392
4-45 Penalties/Yards 10-100
6-33 Punts / Average 1-30
Truman:
Rushing: Jordan Freeman 11-38; Maurice Jackson 1-4; Quintin Mulbah 2-3; Justin Fant 2-2; Matt Olsen 1-0; Corey McCloud 1 (-7); and Mark Lopez 9 (-18). Totals 27-22.
Passing: Lopez 2-7-1; 24 yards – Freeman 0-1-0; 0 yards. Totals 2-8-1; 24 yards.
Receiving: Olsen 1-19; Darius Deleon 1-5. Totals 2-24.
Interception: Jackson 1 (TD).
Upper Dublin:
Rushing: Ryan Stover 12-136 & 2 TD; Kalief Lee 10-84 & 2 TD; Malik Bootman 2-51; Stacey Gardner 7-45; Nassir Smith 4-16; Naiim Huff 4-13; Evan Scott 3-9; Nick Sonetto 3-3; Justin Horn 2-4; Phil Butler 1-0. 48-361 & 4 TD.
Passing: Stover 4-7-1; 31 yards & TD.
Receiving: Gardner 1-15; Gary Fields III 1-6 & TD; John Barrett 1-6; and James Lampmann 1-4.
Interceptions: Gardner.
- Log in to post comments
