Upper Dublin denies Upper Moreland
Upper Dublin understood Upper Moreland had a handful of talented football players they had to be aware of on Friday nightK But they also knew they could not let number three on the Golden Bears be the one to beat themK
“One play,” Flying Cardinals’ coach Bret Stover saidK “He got loose on one play and that tells you how good he isK He made the game a lot more interesting than it should have beenK”
kumber three on the Golden Bears is senior Robert KnoxK He is listed as a running back in the program, but he lined up all over the fiHOG Ln WKH 6uEuUEDn 2nH American Conference con- testK And other than his S3yard touchdown run, the stud senior was held to 33 yards on 15 carriesK
“We tried to get the ball to other athletes,” Bears’ coach Dave Heying saidK “Robert is a special player, but we want to get as many guys touches as possibleK We are not trying to be one dimensionalK”
The Golden Bears tried a variety of ways to get the ball in Knox’ hands, including D flHH-flLFNHU SDss wLWK WKH game in the balanceK Knox received the pitch and reOHDsHG D 40-yDUG SUDyHU. 7KH Cardinals’ Brad Shildkrout intercepted the attempt to sHFuUH WKH 14-7 wLn, KHOSLnJ KLs WHDP LPSURvH WR 4-3 (2-2 in the American Conference) and the Golden Bears fall to 4-3 (2-2 Ln WKH FRnIHUHnFH).
“I was very happy with the way our defense played,” Stover saidK “I am very proud of the way our guys responded after last week’s loss to CheltenhamK I think we have a little magic going on hereK We have a lot of late-game heroics in our winsK”
The Cardinals came to Upper Moreland without their starting stud running back, Khalid Weems, sidelined with an injured toeK The loss of Weems for the week just meant fellow seniors fullback Reed Rapine and tailback Mike Lee would have to put their nagging injuries behind them for the nightK
“I am coming back from my own injury and I knew I had to step it up,” Lee saidK “I tore a ligament in my elbow, and even doctors were not sure I should play, but I had to be there for my teamK”
LHH finLsKHG wLWK 39 yards, though he did have D 40-yDUG EuUsW FDOOHG EDFN GuH WR D SHnDOWy flDJ. )ODJs frustrated both teams all night, and though Heying understands his defense did not do enough to win, the questionable calls are going to irk him all nightK
“I am so infuriated,” Heying saidK “They called a penalty on third down and 10 after we stopped themK They called it on us and I don’t even mind offsetting penalties thereK I know my kid should not be out there, but that personal foul call changed the gameK”
bven with S0 penalty yards and two lost fumbles, the Golden Bears were inside the 10-yard line late in the fourth quarterK After Knox
caught a 33-yard pass from Charlie Hooker on fourthand-12, the Bears drive stalled at the seven-yard line. The touchdown runs by the Cardinals’ Rapine and quarterback John Derr proved to be enough.
“It can be tough to run in the red zone,” Heying said. “I thought we had some plays there, but a couple guys did not run the right routes. I have to go back and ORRk DW WhH fiOP.”
“Our kids felt we were going to win the game,” Stover said. “Our captains (Rapine, Ben Winebrake, Derek and Jones) held a players-only meeting and our effort all week was great.