Perkasie, Pa., The Pennridge Rams relied on a stingy defense and Mike Class’s game changing 70 yard touchdown run in their 21-10 victory over the Central Bucks South Titans at Pennridge’s Poppy Yoder field. The Ram win created a three way logjam for first place in District One’s Continental Conference with the Titans and North Penn. This game features the two best running backs in these parts featuring Class and South’s electrifying sophomore Josh Adams.
Adams came into the game with 22 touchdowns and over 1,100 rushing yards for the Titans but they also featured an effective passing attack behind quarterback John Pileggi. In their come from behind victory over North Penn last week, Pileggi threw four TD passes in the second half after North Penn keyed on Adams.
Pennridge scored the first two times they had the ball and it appeared as though the shootout was going to go their way. Class took a pass out on the left flat from quarterback Alex Krivda and scampered 30 yards for their first score. On their second series they generated a nine play drive and Kyle Bigam punched it in from the three and gave the Rams a quick 14-0 lead only two plays into the second quarter.
The Titans settled down and went on their own 12 play drive and Pileggi found Paul Weeks all alone on a crossing route in the end zone from eight yards out putting them back into the contest. They then got a break after Krivda fumbled after being sacked on South’s 11and Mike McDermott fell on the loose ball giving the Titans the ball deep in their own territory with only two minutes left in the half. Central Bucks then drove down to the Ram 11 and Evan Stahl booted a 28 yard field goal to make the score 14-10 at intermission.
A crowd estimated at 4,000 expected something big to happen in the third quarter. The Ram faithful were not disappointed when Class took a misdirection handoff on the quarter’s last play and rambled for his 70 yard touchdown which gave Pennridge a cushion that the Titans could not overcome.
Ram coach Randy Cuthbert was ecstatic with the way his defense played afterward. “Coach (Bob) Rosenberger did a great job with our defense showing multiple coverage’s”, Cuthbert remarked afterward. “We primarily ran man to man in our win over Souderton last week, but we couldn’t do that tonight with their running back and quarterback. The kids did a great job in pattern reading (on passing plays) and it enabled them to shut down their offense”.
Pennridge (6-1, 3-0) faces a stern test with North Penn next week. Central Bucks falls to 6-1 (3-1) and host Central Bucks East.
Notes: Bigam played a monster game on both sides of the ball in helping to limit Adams to only 120 on the ground. Besides his touchdown in the first quarter he was a blocking machine for Class on a number of his gains. Final numbers for Class were 228 yards on 28 carries with one TD run and one reception. Adams was limited to a modest 121 yards on 24 totes.
Scoring By Quarter
1st Quarter:
P- Mike Class- 30 pass from Alex Krivda – (PAT- Brian Unangst)- 5:25
2nd Quarter:
P- Kyle Bigam- 3 yard run – (PAT- Unangst) – 11:25
CBS- Paul Weeks- 8 yard pass from John Pileggi – (PAT- Evan Stahl) – 7:13
CBS- Stahl – 28 yard Field Goal – :33
3rd Quarter
P- Class – 70 yard run – (PAT- Unangst) – :00
4th Quarter
No Scoring
