Pioneers blanked by Royals

UPPER DARBY >> The Upper Darby and Conestoga football teams squared off Friday night in a battle of two equally-matched teams trying to reset their seasons.

The difference was the Royals (2-4 overall, 2-3 Central League) were able to capitalize on opportunities, grinding out an 18-0 Central League win over Conestoga (1-5, 1-4) on a damp, chilly, evening at Memorial Field.

“We shot ourselves in the foot in the Red Zone,” Conestoga head coach Marquis Weeks said. “You can’t win football games like that. We had a fumble on the six going in and that just changes the whole momentum... we had another fumble on a reverse we were trying to run that was there (for a big gain). We had two fumbles in the Red Zone and statistically when you have turnovers, it is harder and harder to win the game.”

Conestoga fumbled three times and lost all three. Weeks was accurate on when and where the fumbles occurred.

The first turnover occurred at Upper Darby’s six-yard line in the first quarter, and again at the six on the opening drive of the third quarter that had looked promising.

The Pioneers were led by sophomore Milt Robinson, who rushed 25 times for 111 yards.

Upper Darby was led by junior running back Quaron Davis who rushed 23 times for 80 yards, including a one-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive.

The other two touchdowns also came in the first half. Head coach Rich Gentile called for a double reverse on fourth-and-goal from the seven.

The ball ended up in the hands of running back Nasir Greer who calmly threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Nate Rimel who made his way to the back corner of the end zone uncovered.

The other Royals touchdown came on a three-yard run by Greer with 1:39 left in the first half.

“Quaron is our workhorse back,” Gentile said. “He does a real nice job. The best part is he is only a junior.”

Rimel was 8 for 18 for 207 yards passing.

“Nate runs the offense for us very well,” Gentile said. “He’s a senior and has total control of what we do on offense.”

Of course when you can shut out your opponent, it’s quite an accomplishment for the defense. Upper Darby was led by linebacker Richard Tougeekay and two-way linemen Derik Korboi and Dan Snyder.