Aces get their kicks in first win of season
LOWER MERION >> Among the pads and trainers and sideline pandemonium on Saturday afternoon, a pink hat and ponytail weaved between the Lower Merion players to the far end of the field.
There, Evan Breisblatt hollered orders as the kicking unit ran onto the field opposite Penncrest. Jaden Helton had just caught a 48-yard pass for a touchdown, the Aces’ first of the day en route to a 45-7 victory over Penncrest. Ava, the little girl with the pink hat, had to tug on her father’s pants a few times before Breisblatt turned his attention toward her. She only needed to say one thing: Finally.
“I think she was talking about the extra point,” said Breisblatt, whose Lower Merion squad dominated in its first win of the season. “She doesn’t let me get any slack.”
There wasn’t much slack needed Saturday. Matt O’Connor threw for five touchdowns and 296 yards. Helton had three of those scores on nine catches and 156 yards, and Jalen Goodman reeled in a pair of TDs. The defense forced six turnovers, five in the first half. And, to Ava’s excitement, Asa Kosto was a perfect 6-for-6 on point-after attempts and hit a 22-yard field goal.
It’s been a tough road for Lower Merion (1-5, 1-4 Central League), which has played opponents hard this season but come up short. Against Penncrest (1-5, 1-4), the Aces left all the fumbles, miscues and missed field goals behind.
“It’s nice for them to see a result today,” Breisblatt said. “We were able to practice this week with no interruptions. I think we were in the gym only one time. That’s a huge difference as we have not gotten to practice outside a lot in the last three weeks because of weather, holidays, and saturation of the field. … You can’t kick the ball in a gym.”
After the Helton touchdown, Ian Goodman jumped a route and intercepted Nick Benecke’s pass and almost returned it for six points. Instead, Ardontrell Williams fought his way past three defenders into the end zone to go up 14-0 into the second quarter.
After forcing a three and out, Goodman again flashed his moves on a 52-yard punt return that set up a six-yard touchdown for his brother Jalen. O’Connor connected with Helton for two more touchdowns before halftime.
Penncrest had its moments. Jay Brown made the play of the day, reaching around the defender on an underthrown pass and tipping it several times with one hand before making the catch as he hit the turf. He also scored the Lions’ touchdown.
Benecke, under pressure most of the day, tossed for 148 yards and rushed for 51. The Penncrest defense, however, could not keep up with the Aces’ talented receiving core. Breisblatt knows where his talent lies, but he also knows the next steps to take.
“We have tried to work on our run game because that’s what has been hurting us, we feel like,” the coach explained. “I thought we did well with the run, we mixed it up a little bit and gave them all kinds of different looks.”
That’s tomorrow’s worry, though. Today, Breisblatt can enjoy the great weather and his first win at the helm of Lower Merion. That is, if Ava lets him.
“I’m glad Ava will be happy tonight,” he said. “She runs the show, no doubt.”