FOOTBALL: Big 1st half enables Annville-Cleona to cruise at Kutztown
KUTZTOWN >> Underestimating an opponent while looking forward to their biggest game of the year could have yielded big consequences for the Annville-Cleona football team Friday night.
However, their focus under first-year Dutchmen coach Matt Gingrich was undeviating, resulting in their second straight win in their final non-conference matchup of the season.
The Dutchmen topped the 0-7 Kutztown Cougars with ease, 33-8, scoring all their points in the opening half and limiting the home team to just 85 yards rushing.
Adam Fox ran for two scores (64 and 61 yards) and tossed a 39-yard-pass to Griffin Hertz to lead the offense of Annville-Cleona (5-2). Fox has emerged as a playmaker for the Dutchmen over the past couple games, accumulating more experience and competence in Gingrich's system, which utilizes the triple option in a pro-style offense.
"The kids realized that this was going to be a big game," Gingrich said. "I was very happy with the intensity, but not very happy with the three fumbles. We had three turnovers – it felt like 300."
Will Langan ran back an interception 56 yards for a score in the second quarter to give A-C a 16-0 advantage, further intensified by Matt Light's 22- and 30-yard field goals in the opening half.
The Dutchmen's ground game collected 300 rushing yards, turning their passing game into an afterthought due to their proficient running attack. Fox went 1-for-2 passing for 56 yards and his backup Noah Myers played most of the second half, completing one of his four pass attempts for 19 yards.
"We ask our kids to run instead of throw," Gingrich explained of Fox. "We ask our kids to deliver the mail. If the fullback's open he gives it, if not he pulls it and if pulls it and it's open, you've got a threat. He's starting to get a whole heck of a lot better, the last two to three weeks we've seen a lot of progress from him."
Gingrich's club spread the ball around in the backfield, allowing six players to register at least six rushing attempts. Fox lead the charge with 146 rushing yards on just eight carries, with three of his attempts going for over 10 yards, including his two 60-yard plus bursts in the opening half.
Kutztown found pay dirt in the final minute of action ob Brayden Eck's 43-yard touchdown pass to Drew Miller. Eck finished 7-for-12 passing for 120 yards.
The Cougars' ground game was led by Oscar Kelchner, who ran for 65 yards on 25 carries. Eck was sacked five times by the imposing Dutchmen defense, who must be a considerable influence against Northern Lebanon's electric offense next Friday.
"It doesn't matter what they put in front of you," Gingrich said. "If you do what you do better than anyone else, you'll be fine.
"We're going to focus on watching more film than Northern Lebanon, and we're going to focus on Monday and Tuesday having a better practice. They're as good as it gets – our goal is to make it a game in the fourth quarter."
Annville-Cleona 33, Kutztown 8
Ann.-Cleona102300—33Kutztown0008—8
First Quarter
AC — Fox 64 run (Matt Light kick)
AC — Light 22 field goal
Second Quarter
AC — Will Langan 56 interception return (kick failed)
AC — Fox 61 run (Light kick)
AC — Fox 39 pass to Griffin Hertz (Light kick)
AC — Light 30 yard field goal
Fourth Quarter
K — Eck 43 yard pass to Miller (conversion successful)
ACKutzFirst downs1610Rushes-yards44-30039-85Passing2-6-07-12-1Passing yards75130Total yards375215Punts0-06-31.0Fumbles-lost4-33-2Penalties-yards2-107-57
Individual statistics
Rushing — AC, Fox 8-146, Hoch 6-38, Wagner 7-37, Bomgardner 6-25, Langan 8-29, Myers 6-20, Barr 2-6, Reigle 1-(-1);
Passing — AC, Fox 1-2-0-56, Myers 1-4-0-19;
Receiving — AC, Hertz 1-39, Barr 1-19, Hoch 1-17;