Merkel, Emory help Allentown roll
HIGHTSTOWN » As far as earlyseason statements go, the Allentown football team delivered theirs loud and clear on Friday night at David J. McIntire Field.
The Redbirds plan on being a force in central Jersey this season, and that means having a perfectionist attitude even after blowing out a solid Hightstown team on the road, 39-0, to improve to 2-0.
“We did our job on defense. We did OK on offense,” quarterback Dan Merkel said. “I think we should’ve done better. I mean, they were a good team, but I think we’re better than we played tonight. We were very sloppy, a lot of penalties and missed snaps — mostly on me. Just kind of a sloppy game on offense, but defense came out and really got the job done.”
Allentown racked up 374 yards of offense led by Merkel, who completed 7-of-12 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries.
Rahsaan Emory rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries. He and Merkel formed a lethal tandem in the read-option game, opening up the receiving game for players like Chris McCrea, who had 104 receiving yards on four catches including a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
M cC re a also kicked a 33- yard field goal in the first quarter.
“The passing game and the running game definitely complement each other. When Rahsaan gets going, the passing game definitely starts to get going,” Merkel said. “Our receivers start to catch the ball. It all starts with our line, though. I didn’t have much time in the beginning, but toward the end I had plenty of time to sit back there in the pocket, make my reads and just deliver the ball and the receivers did the rest.”
Merkel, a sophomore who also stars in baseball, believes his game has significantly improved as a running threat since taking the reigns as the starting quarterback a year ago.
He had a 22-yard run during a nine-play, 92-yard touchdown drive to start the fourth quarter. He also scored on touchdown runs of 18 and eight yards during the first half.
“I’m definitely more comfortable running the ball,” Merkel said. “I’m seeing the field better. I’m keeping my eyes up instead of just putting my head down and trying to bowl people over.”
Defensively, Allentown smothered Hightstown early. The Redbirds held the Rams to only one first down in the first half with a dominant defensive line led by Drew Huth and Angel Santiago.
Santiago recovered a fumble on Hightstown’s third play from scrimmage at the 18-yard line. The Rams also committed a safety on a bad snap through the back of the end zone.
In a 12-0 hole after the first quarter, Hightstown tried to diversify its offense with more passing than in its 52-0 seasonopening win against Princeton. But little worked against a team that very much looks like a contender in South Jersey Group III.
“Hightstown’s got a great running game with the single wing. They just pound it, and they couldn’t do anything against our d-ends and our interior,” Merkel said. “They couldn’t move the ball anywhere tonight. Our guys are great. They work hard in practice, and that’s what we expect out of them every game.”
Allentown (2-0) 12 13 7 7 — 39
Hightstown (1-1) 0 0 0 0 — 0
A — Merkel 18 run (McCrea kick)
A — Hightstown safety (bad snap)
A — McCrea 33 field goal
A — Merkel 8 run (kick failed)
A — Emory 1 run (McCrea kick)
A — Moore 80 kickoff return (McCrea kick)
A — McCrea 43 catch from Merkel (McCrea kick)