Pennsbury On A Big Roll Behind A Big Offensive Front

Top 10
Week of Oct. 10, 2011
1. Archbishop Wood (Record: 5-1. Previous Week: 1. Weeks Rated: 7.)
2. La Salle (Record: 5-1. Previous Week: 3. Weeks Rated: 7.)
3. Abington (Record: 6-0. Previous Week: 3. Weeks Rated: 3.)
4. Pennsbury (Record: 5-1. Previous Week: 4. Weeks Rated: 2.)
5. Council Rock South (Record: 5-1. Previous Week: 5. Weeks Rated: 7.)
6. Malvern Prep (Record: 4-1. Previous Week: 6. Weeks Rated: 6.)
7. Unionville (Record: 5-1. Previous Week: 8. Weeks Rated. 2.)
8. Plymouth Whitemarsh (Record: 5-1. Previous Week: NR. Weeks Rated. 1.)
9. Coatesville (Record: 5-1. Previous Week: 9. Weeks Rated: 6.)
10. Springfield (D) (Record: 6-0. Previous Week: NR. Weeks Rated: 1.)

 Philadelphia (CBS)—This season began with a thud for Pennsbury. The Falcons were on the wrong end of a 24-0 season-opening loss to Easton. They lost their starting quarterback in that game. Pennsbury played without its best player, J.J. Denman, arguably the best offensive lineman in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Nothing seemed to go right in what was supposed to be a promising season.

Playing with who was originally a backup quarterback, starting a freshman in a key position in its Wing-T offense, the Falcons have responded with five-straight victories—including a 13-10 victory over previously undefeated Council Rock South. Senior Bruce Campbell has stepped in at quarterback for Shawn Pepper, who's been moved to linebacker, and the backfield trio of senior Adam Lewis, junior Daquan Mack and freshman Chuck Snorweah has kept the Falcons' attack fresh and dangerous.

"We're getting to the point where we need to be," Falcons' coach Galen Snyder said. "I think, defensively, we played pretty well all season, even in the Easton game, where we played on a short field because of turnovers. Offensively, we kind of found our backfield and we like the way it is right now (with Mack at fullback, and Lewis and Snorweah at the wings). They've done the bulk of the work. Charlie is a freshman and he's come a long way. Charlie has gotten better and more used to playing varsity football. Adam Lewis has shown an ability to break tackles, and he's very quick."

It also helps having the mammoth Denman, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound Penn State-bound center who missed the first game with a leg injury that's healed, creating gaping holes. Denman, along with senior guards Dylan Pepper, who is 6-foot-3, 260 pounds and 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jake Andrassy, have plowed away everything in front of them. They allow the Falcons to run the kind of offense that opposing teams know what's coming and still can't stop.

"You don't get a kid like JJ very often; JJ plays a little defense for us, and Lewis is the only player that goes both ways, as a wingback and cornerback," Snyder said. "You can say, with the style we play, a physical style, we do have fresh legs. We threw the ball once against Council Rock South and threw it twice [in a 44-7 victory] against William Tennent.

"And I think we have three first-team all-league kids up front in JJ, Jake and Dylan. They're all very good players, all three of them. They know the system and they know what we do. Jake is a two-year starter and JJ and Dylan are three-year starters, so there is a lot of experience there."

Game of the Week
Pennsbury (5-1) at Abington (6-0), Friday 7 p.m.

This will be an interesting game. Abington is averaging 33.5 points a game and has a stingy defense, led by Temple-bound 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior defensive end Bryan Osei and linebacker Myles Grasty, and an offense steered by quarterback Ken Cropper, a transfer from Cheltenham, and Ray Schreiner, a darting, 5-foot-7, 160-pound tailback.

Pennsbury likes to pound away behind its large offensive front.

"As long as we don't turn the ball over, we should be in good shape," Pennsbury coach Galen Snyder said. "Abington is a good team and they rely on their speed in their skill positions. We'll need to contain their speed guys."

Reported by: Joseph Santoliquito