PATRIOT GAINS
Allentown takes control of division with win over Steinert
ALLENTOWN » Rahsaan Emory rushed for 283 yards and four touchdowns to lead Allentown High School’s football team to a 35-21 victory over Steinert Friday night.
The victory gives the Redbirds at least a share of the West Jersey Football League Patriot Division title Allentown (5-2) is 3-0 while the Spartans (5-2) drop to 3-1. The ‘Birds can clinch the crown outright with a win at Princeton on Nov. 3.
Steinert held a 21-14 halftime lead after amassing 175 yards of offense in the first half. But the Redbirds defense stiffened after intermission, allowing just seven rushing yards after Steinert ran for 98 in the first half.
Allentown took the secondhalf kickoff and went 52- yards on nine plays, capped by Emory’s 16-yard touchdown run. The kick failed, however, as Steinert clung to a one-point lead.
On their next possession, the Redbirds drove to the Spartan 28 but on a fourth-and five, Emory was stopped for no gain. Steinert dodged another bullet early in the fourth quarter when Allentown’s 24-yard field goal attempt went wide right.
With the Spartans’ offense desperately trying to make something happen, Peter Pinto came up with an interception on third-and-5 to give Allentown possession at the Steinert 36.
It then turned into redemption time for X’Zavier Harris. In the first half, Harris had a sure touchdown pass go through his hands and Allentown was sacked on the next play to end a drive.
But they called Harris’ number on 2nd-and-10 and Dan Merkel threw a perfect strike to the receiver, who made the grab in the endzone. Emory added to his spectacular night by scoring on the 2-point conversion to put the Redbirds up 28-21.
But he was just warming up. After going three-and-out on their next possession, the Spartans punted and Allentown took over on its 28. Emory then broke free for a 70-yard run before the Spartans hauled him down at the 2-yard line. It took four cracks, but on fourthand-goal Emory found the endzone for the fourth time to put the game away with 2:32 remaining.
The Spartans, who had a fivegame winning streak snapped, could not have asked for a better start.
Allentown began moving the ball well on its first possession of the game but, on a thirdand-9, the Redbirds tried to set up a screen pass that was intercepted and returned 75 yards for a touchdown by Jake Swindasz.
That put Allentown’s offense right back on the field and the Redbirds drove to the Spartan 30 before Steinert held. But on first down, Steinert lost a fumble and a weary defense allowed Emory to score on a 27-yard run on the first play. At that point the Spartans defense had been on the field for 23 of 24 plays against Allentown’s hurry-up offense.
Steinert came back in electrifying fashion on its next series as Jordan Morrison found Miles Smith with a shovel pass that went for a 54-yard touchdown. After Allentown had its dropped TD pass, the Spartans capitalized with a 21-yard TD pass from Morrison to Smith to take a 21-7 advantage.
Both passes came on firstand-20 plays after Steinert was penalized for holding.
Allentown got closer on its next series thanks to Emory’s 22-yard scoring run to make it 21-14. After halftime, the Redbirds defense stepped up and Emory kept on running.