Council Rock North thrashes Hatboro-Horsham
BucksiocalSports Editor
HATBOoO — Freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more last Friday night as Council oock North came away with its first win of the season, a 37-0 road thrashing of Hatboro-Horsham.
McIlwain E11-21-0, 176 yardsF got the Indians’ offense headed in the right direction early, tossing a 67-yard touchdown pass to senior Brandon Knotts on the oock’s first play from scrimmage.
Senior A.J. Nielson was the receiver of McIlwain’s next Ta aerial, this one a 26-yard scoring strike that came in the second quarter.
Before halftime, the Indian defense added a safety when it tackled Hatters tight end T.J. Keleher in the end zone.
McIlwain went back to work after the break, hitting sophomore Matt Cabo with a 6-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. The ninthgrade quarterback added Ta runs of his own - one each in the third and fourth quarters, turning this one into a runaway.
North won every phase of the game, especially the defense. After surrendering 81 points in its first two games in losses to Haverford and CB South, the oock turned things around with a solid shutout in enemy territory. Knotts and freshman aB Seth Leuz snared interceptions for the Indians.
Offensively, there was no question - with McIlwain outgunning three Hatboro signal-callers, 176-52, and oock rushers outgaining Hatter ballcarriers, 140-89.
Nielson got the bulk of the rushing duties for North, toting the pigskin 13 times for 88 yards. McIlwain took it 10 times for 35 yards and two scores. Knotts carried the ball five times for 17 yards.
With the passing game firing on all cylinders, the oock receivers had a good night with Knotts leading the way with three catches good for 87 yards and a
touchdown. Cabo also tallied three catches for 41 yards and a score. Nielson grabbed four balls for 32 yards and junior Josh McWilliams added one catch for 16 yards.
For Hatboro, quarterback Steve Palo rushed 13 times for just 33 yards. Jeff Pan- ara also carried 13 times, gaining just 26 more. Chris Ejimonyeugwo tallied 22 yards on nine carries and oyan Fitzpatrick ran twice for 14 yards.
For North E1-2F, the win gives the team confidence heading into its Suburban One League ESOLF National Conference opener this Friday night at Abington. For the winless Hatters E0- 3F, it doesn’t get any easier as they host unbeaten CB South E3-0F, which is coming off a 42-0 thrashing of Norristown E0-3F.