C.R. South Game

By Bud Kern
Courtesy of The Free Press

Quakertown High School's football Panthers, exploiting a tough defense while riding the passing arm of senior quarterback Jon Ruch, completely dominated host Council Rock South, shredding the Golden Hawks 45-0 last Friday evening in Newtown.
The Panthers used a pair of seven-play drives that culminated into two 6-yard T.D. runs by senior tailback Zach Schoch late in the first quarter. With Nate Miller's two placement boots, Quakertown led 14-0.
It didn't get any better for the (1-7-0-5-SOL) Hawks as quarterback Ruch began to loosen up his right arm.
With 10:21 left on the first-half clock, Ruch uncorked a 38-yard pass-and-run gem that wide-receiver Nate Cox hauled in at the Rock 15 yard line on his way to the end zone, hiking the Panthers to a 21-0 lead after Miller's P.A.T.
When South went 3 and out on its next possession, Quakertown moved quickly again. An 11-yard toss, Ruch to tight-end Billy Whitehead, gave the Panthers a first down at the South 37 yard line.
Ruch again went to the air lanes with a pitch that Cox, leaping backward, grabbed as he sped to the right corner of the end zone with his second touchdown, upping the Panthers lead to 28-0 after Miller¹s P.A.T.
"Jon (Ruch) made a pretty good throw and I just went up over the top of the kid to make the catch," said Cox. "We've got a good Souderton team next week and we just want to win."
Before the half ended, the Panthers' Chris Leister scooped up a South fumble and rambled 34 yards to paydirt.
Miller again hit the placement and Quakertown led 35-0 at halftime. With the mercy rule governing the time clock, the second half passed quickly; however, the Panthers kept pounding away.
At the 6:01 mark of the third quarter, Ruch connected with tailback Schoch on a 76-yard pass-and-run combo to extend the lead to 42-0 after another Miller P.A.T.
Miller kicked a 21-yard field goal midway in the final quarter to complete the scoring for the night.
"I like the way we really dominated tonight. It gives us a lot of momentum for next week (Souderton)," said Panther coach John Donnelly. "It's going to be a backyard brawl and a great night for football we are really looking forward to it."
Quakertown (5-3-4-1-SOL) with tonight¹s victory is still in the running for the Continental Conference Crown.

Game Notes
Cornerback Derrick Ambler put a classic hit on a Rock receiver late in the second quarter. "I saw the guy go up for the ball and I knew that I had to hit him hard and jar the ball loose," said Ambler, who also starts for the Panther basketball squad.
Sophomore Nate Dixon showed off some fancy ball toting, picking up 38 yards on six carries late in the contest.
Junior Mike Tomasino added 18 yards on five totes and looked impressive.
Offensive field leader Ruch passed for 216 yards connecting on 9 of 11 attempts and 3 T.D.s.
Cox and Schoch combined for five catches for 163 yards and three T.D.s.
The Panther defense, as a unit, is looking rugged at this point in the season. Senior captain James Streapy picked off a South pass on "D" and also made a good looking one-handed grab of a 13-yard Ruch pass on "O."
As noted above, it's Souderton this Friday, away, at 7 p.m.

Bud Kern is a freelance sports writer for The Free Press.