Bevy of rushers, stout defense lead Allentown
ALLENTOWN >> Have you ever seen a football team win by three scores without completing a pass?
A raucous crowd Friday at Allentown High School did. With star quarterback Jordan Winston not playing, the Redbirds utilized an effective rushing committee along with stingy defense to dominate Northern Burlington for a 20-3 victory.
One of those rushers was senior Joe Mannino, who broke the game open with electrifying touchdown runs of 22 and 54 yards in the third quarter.
Mannino’s first score capped a three-play, 36-yard drive after a shoddy Northern Burlington punt afforded the Redbirds good field position. Ricky Mottram, a Bucknell linebacker commit who played quarterback the bulk of the second half, set up the score with a 15-yard read-option run on second down to the 22-yard line.
The next play, Mottram handed it off to Mannino, who broke free to the edge and down the sideline thanks to a few key blocks with 6:15 remaining in the period.
On Allentown’s next drive after the Greyhounds punted to the Redbirds’ 46, Mannino smashed Allentown’s Sadik Queen, right, battles for yardage as Northern Burlington’s Andrew Jackson tries to make the tackle. through the middle of the field, a sack in the first quarter broke a tackle and was off to the while Ryan Huth repeatedly penetrated races for another touchdown. the interior and hurried
Meanwhile, the Redbirds’ defense the quarterback. In the back end, was relentless all night long. Mottram worked his way through Allentown forced seven threeand-outs a slew of blockers to drop running — four of them plus a back Jermiron Hardy for a turnover to begin the second half. 5-yard loss early in the fourth.
Up front, Makelli Quinones recorded Three plays later, defensive back Ryan Locke snagged a sliding interception on fourth down with 10:01 remaining.
Allentown attempted only three passes in the game and converted none of them. Kavon Johnson started the game at quarterback, but coach Jay Graber ended up shuffling quite a bit at the position with Wildcat and read-option looks.
Mannino, Mottram, Sadik Queen and Aydon Chavis all picked up chunks of yardage throughout the night to highlight Allentown’s run-heavy offense.
Allentown’s first-half scoring drive was 43 yards on eight plays. Mottram scampered into the end zone from five yards out with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter, and Christopher McCrea added the point after for a 7-3 lead.
Kyle Matthews contributed the only scoring for Northern Burlington, nailing a 41-yard field goal with 3:14 left in the first quarter. Mottram 5 rush (McCrea kick)
Mannino 22 rush (kick failed) Mannino 54 rush (McCrea kick)