HS Football: Tamaqua trounces Salisbury
Tamaqua sophomore running back Terrence McDowell (Photo by Leroy Boyer).
TAMAQUA — Tamaqua sophomore Terrance McDowell is multi-talented young man.
On the football field, he’s quickly becoming one of the best running backs in the area.
McDowell ran for 216 yards and scored four times to pace the Blue Raiders to a 42-6 rout of Salisbury in a non-league contest on Homecoming Night at Tamaqua Area Sports Stadium.
McDowell carried the ball 24 times and scored Tamaqua’s first four touchdowns of the game, including a pair a two-yard runs, one for 19 yards, while his final jaunt covered 51 yards. It topped off a big first half for McDowell as he finished the half with 181 yards, helping the Blue Raiders (2-3) jump out to a 28-0 advantage at intermission.
McDowell didn’t have much opportunity to enjoy his night immediately after the game. After a quick team huddle with Blue Raiders’ head coach Sam Bonner, McDowell had to strip off his shoulder pads, exchange them for a pair of quad drums, and join two other of his teammates to perform with the Tamaqua Area Band.
“I didn’t want to pick,” McDowell said on playing both football and in the band. “Even at home, I have my own drum set. Me and my buddies actually have a band. I love music. It’s an honor to be able to do both, both of the things I love.”
It might be easy for McDowell to get lost among the Blue Raiders’ 130-piece band. But he’s having no problem standing out on the football field so far this season.
With his performance Friday, McDowell now has 796 yards rushing on the season and 11 touchdowns in his first year starting varsity at running back for Tamaqua. Friday was the fourth consecutive game McDowell’s gone over 100 yards. His season high was 273 yards during Tamaqua’s 35-27 loss to Jim Thorpe last week.
McDowell isn’t particularly big at 5-foot-9, 155 pounds, but he is quickly becoming Tamaqua’s workhorse.
“He runs hard and he runs low,” Bonner said. “He keeps his feet churning. Sometimes I am like ‘Man, he could of broken it outside.’ But I can’t complain when he’s getting 12 or 13 yards. My eyes aren’t his eyes. Obviously, he’s doing something right. He’s been doing a heck of a job the past five weeks.”
Tamaqua finished the night with 330 yards rushing and 14 first downs on the ground. Fullback Malachi Stewart scored from four yards out, while quarterback Chase Serfass finished off the Blue Raiders’ offensive outburst on 11-yard run around left end after a fake to McDowell on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Tamaqua’s offensive line opened up plenty of holes up front. That group includes center Luke Frohnheiser, guards Logan Pribila and Logan Zimmerman, and tackles Carter Troutman and James Nalesnik. Another key part of the Blue Raiders’ run game is tight ends Damian Jazowski and Teegen Phillips, along with fullbacks C.J. Walker and Stewart, McDowell’s brother.
“Definitely the big guys up front,” McDowell said on the keys to his night. “The chemistry. Our coach pushes us. Our past four games were winnable. This week in practice, we really pushed. We had phenomenal practices all week and it translated to the game.”
Frohnheiser was among the many standouts for Tamaqua’s defense with a sack, one of the five Salisbury quarterback Keaton Frye suffered on the night.
The Blue Raiders held the Falcons (2-3) to 148 yards of total offense, including 53 on the ground, and zero in the first half. Frye was consistently under pressure and finished only 4-of-12 passing.
Brady McCabe had a fumble recovery and interception for Tamaqua, while Walker and Stewart had two sacks apiece.
“Our defense up front, I wanted to emphasize that we get more of a pass rush,” Bonner said. “That’s a plus. That’s something we haven’t be able to do to successfully this year. Hopefully this gives our guys up front a little confidence.”
The Falcons’ only touchdown came on a 16-yard run by Jarrod Blunt with early in the fourth quarter.
Tamaqua or McDowell didn’t off to a great start as his first two runs of the game went for a combined two yards and the Blue Raiders went three-and-out. The Falcons drove to the Tamaqua 32 on their first possession of the game, but the drive stalled.
Then McDowell and Tamaqua’s rushing attack took over.
His first score from two yards out topped off a 10-play, 70 yard drive.
The Blue Raiders got the ball on the Falcons’ 35 on their next possession. That drive lasted only four plays and ended with McDowell’s second, two-yard touchdown run.
McCabe’s fumble recovery set up Tamaqua again in Salisbury territory, this time at the 34. Three McDowell runs later, the final from 19 yards out, made it 20-0.
McDowell’s final run of the half was perhaps his best. On a first-and-10 play from the Blue Raiders’ 49, McDowell went over the right side of the line. He then cut back to the left around the 30 and outran the defenders the rest of the way.
“I see a lane and James (Nalesnik) likes to block guys to his right,” McDowell said of the run. “I am on the right, and I cut into the left and there is just no one. So, it’s just a footrace, basically. I know I am going to win that every time.”
For the most part, Tamaqua limited its mistakes Friday, something Bonner believe will a key for the rest of the season.
“We were a couple of plays away from being 4-1,” Bonner said. “I thought we played solid all four quarters, which is something we have to start doing. We were young to start the year off. Our goal is to improve every week. I thought we took a good step forward this week. We have to keep on doing that.”
Game Summary
Tamaqua 42, Salisbury 6
Salisbury (2-3) 0 0 0 6 — 6
Tamaqua (2-2) 6 22 8 6 — 42
Tam — McDowell 2 run (Kick failed)
Tam — McDowell 2 run (Stewart run)
Tam — McDowell 19 run (Run failed)
Tam — McDowell 51 run (Stewart run)
Tam — Stewart 4 run (McDowell run)
Tam — Serfass 11 run (Run failed)
Sal — Blunt 16 run (Run failed)
Team Statistics
Sal-Tam
First Downs —- 9 16
Rushes-Yards — 19-53 47-330
Passes —- 4-13-1 1-1-0
Passing Yards —- 95 24
Total Yards —- 148 354
Fumbles/Lost —- 4-1 1-0
Penalties — 7-50 5-55
