Upper Moreland picked up a non-league win over Executive Charter at Muhlenberg College on Saturday.
Non-league
UPPER MORELAND 42, EXECUTIVE CHARTER 19
Stephen Broderick turned in a monster performance for the Golden Bears. The senior running back – a workhorse out of the backfield – ran for 261 yards and four touchdowns on 30 carries.
“He just ran wild all night,” UM coach Adam Beach said of Broderick. “I don’t think we threw for more than five yards. We didn’t have to throw, so we just kept running it. We wanted to control the clock, so why throw if you don’t have to.”
The Golden Bears certainly didn’t have to throw in Saturday night’s non-league win at Muhlenberg College, and playing no small role in the Bears’ punishing running game was UM’s offensive line comprised of Tahir Harris (tight end), Chase Ragan, John Baker, Anthony Apice, Joe Hardee and Tyler Darrows.
“We talked about this game really trying to find our identity,” Beach said. “We talked about up front – winning our battles, winning the line of scrimmage and how important that is. It was really good to see the line come out tonight and impose their will on the defense.
“That allowed Broderick and the offense to do what they did. That doesn’t happen unless the line does the job up front. The story of the game was our offensive and defensive lines imposing their will on Executive Charter, and then we were able to move the ball effectively down the field.”
In a preview of things to come, Broderick scored on a four-yard TD run midway through the first quarter. His second touchdown late in the quarter came on a one-yard plunge, and the Golden Bears led 14-0.
UM upped its lead to 21-0 when Hassan Johnson scored from one yard out early in the second quarter. Executive Charter put a touchdown on the board midway through the frame, and it was a 21-7 game at halftime.
Five minutes into the third quarter, Broderick picked up this third TD of the game, this one from two yards out to put the Golden Bears on top 28-7. Executive Charter scored a touchdown to make it a 28-13 game, but UM quarterback Shawn Herbert got that back with a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Bears a 35-13 lead.
Another Executive Charter TD made it a 35-19 game, but again, the Golden Bears had an answer as Broderick scored his fourth TD in the closing moments of the game.
“Their quarterback (Darmel Lopez) is good,” Beach said. “You can’t deny the kid, you couldn’t keep him down the whole game. He hit some kids on some bombs, and they scored that way, but we controlled the line of scrimmage. That was our goal. We were able to do that, and that’s how we won the game tonight.”
While Broderick and the Golden Bears’ offense stole the spotlight, the defense was turning in a good job of its own.
“We had some nice turnovers,” Beach said. “Zion Akinbo and Paul Meyers both had picks. Isaiah Lyle recorded two sacks and two tackles for a loss and was getting pressure all game.”
The win capped a good day on the gridiron for Beach, who watched his son win his game at John Bartram High School.
“They got the win, got in the car and drove up here and we won,” Beach said.
Upper Moreland (3-1 SOL) will host New Hope-Solebury on Saturday at noon.
Upper Moreland 14-7-14-7 42
Executive Charter 0-7-12-9 19
PHOENIXVILLE 42, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 21
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