CHA defense ensures Lower Moreland whitewash

by BRYAN ARMEN GRAHAM

Mike Flannery rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown to help Chestnut Hill Academy past league rival Lower Moreland, 14-0, before a rain-soaked crowd Friday afternoon at Landreth Field.

"When he gets through the crack and into the secondary, he's tough to tackle," said CHA head coach Jack Plunkett of his junior running back. "He's just the guy we want with the ball as much as possible."

Yet another outstanding effort by the suffocating Blue and Blue defense - in sometimes-torrential showers  - ensured the unit's second whitewash of the season. The defending Independence Football League champions limited the Lions (3-3, 2-2 IFL) to an anemic 60 yards of total offense on the afternoon.

After trading possessions to start the game, the Devils (5-1, 3-0) struck first blood when Scott Dziengelski found Jon Salem in stride for a 25-yard touchdown reception - the only scoring of the half.

Lower Moreland quarterback Bill Teske, constantly molested by CHA's swarming defense, had a difficult time asserting coach Mark Mayson's option-based offense. Backs Joe Rybicki (nine yards rushing), Will Yu (five yards) and Dan Cantofanti (minus two yards) didn't offer much support. The Lions could muster only five first downs all day, converting just two of nine third-down tries.

The senior Teske's team-high 28 yards rushing, many salvaged from broken plays, proved largely inconsequential.

Despite their inability to move the ball, Lower Moreland only trailed their hosts by a touchdown at the break. But Chestnut Hill took control for good on their first possession of the second half.

Starting from their own 35-yard line, Flannery shed three would-be tacklers in the backfield for a seven-yard gain. Next, Dziengelski connected with Kris Kimball for a 20-yard strike into Lower Moreland territory.

Flannery then galloped up the middle for successive 17-yard gains before plunging across the goal line for a three-yard score.

Plunkett credited the swift, game-breaking drive to some halftime fine-tuning.

"We talked to the line and looked at how [the Lions] were lining up, and we just adjusted some of the ways we were blocking a couple of our inside running plays," Plunkett said. "It really opened up a couple of huge holes."

Trailing by two touchdowns, Lower Moreland's offense continued to short-circuit under Chestnut Hill's unwavering defensive pressure.

Struck hard by Salem, Teske fumbled the football on the first play of the ensuing possession but recovered on the CHA 49. On the next play, however, he threw an interception to Kimball, the second of three Lower Moreland turnovers.

Chestnut Hill's overwhelming success on the ground - and ability to move the chains - resulted in a significant advantage in time of possession. During the second half, as the Devils sought to milk the clock, CHA held the ball for over 15 minutes (out of 24).

Dziengelski completed 6 of 11 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. But those relatively modest numbers belie his tremendous offensive impact. The senior signal-caller changed a number of plays at the line based on Lower Moreland's defensive looks.

"And he was always making the right decision," Plunkett noted. "The last two years he's been an excellent quarterback, and I think he's really grown into this role."

The first-place Blue Devils return to action Friday under the lights at Bristol (4-2, 2-1), who defeated non-league opponent Calvary Christian, 27-7, this weekend. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.