PEN ARGYL – Northern Lehigh was hoping to get off to a fast start this season. It has done exactly that.

Following a successful postseason run in 2021, the Bulldogs are once again flexing their muscles.

Saturday afternoon, Northern Lehigh rolled to a 44-12 victory over Pen Argyl to improve its record to 3-0 on the season.

Coming off a big win over rival Northwestern one week earlier, Bulldog coach Joe Tout was a little concerned about how his team would respond.

“I was a little worried pregame; I thought we looked flat,” Tout said.

As it turned out, Tout had no reason to worry.

Northern Lehigh flattened any upset hopes the Green Knights may have had, piling up a 23-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Plowing through Pen Argyl’s defense on its first series, Northern Lehigh rode the legs of its dynamic trio of running backs - Jack Tosh, Alexander Jimenez-Wittong and John Abidelli - to take the lead and never looked back.

The scoring began with a 13-play drive. In addition to the work on the ground, the Bulldog offense also got three pass completions from quarterback Nick Frame, including a 25-yard screen pass Jimenez-Wittong. Jimenez-Wittong eventually went the final three yards on the ground for the touchdown. After Pen Argyl jumped offsides on the conversion, Northern Leigh went for two and Abidelli ran it in for an 8-0 lead.

A few seconds later, the Bulldog defense, who Tout said played “very aggressive and smart,” forced a fumble at the Knights’ 18. Jimenez-Wittong recovered the fumble, and three plays later cashed it in as well on a nifty 11-yard run, Abidelli once again added the two-point conversion for a 16-0 lead.

Tout said the Bulldogs’ defense “could be very special,” and they again showed why as Abidelli intercepted a pass on the Green Knight’s next possession and returned it 32 yards for a score. Chase Moffitt booted the first of his three PATs to stretch the Northern Lehigh lead to 23-0 at the 3:35 mark of the opening quarter.

“Once we got up, I had a very good feeling that our defense was going to make it difficult for them,” said Tout.

His feelings were correct as the Bulldogs allowed a total of just 12 yards rushing, and forced three turnovers including interceptions by Abidelli and Frame.

Northern Lehigh pushed the game into the mercy rule with a big third quarter that produced three more touchdowns.

Abidelli rumbled nine yards to cap a 68-yard drive to open the scoring in the third quarter.

Chase Wiscoky and Frame hooked up on a five-yard touchdown pass to finish off a well-orchestrated 67-yard march for the next score.

Frame set up the final Bulldog score with his pick. Grady Newhard amassed all of the yardage on the 42-yard drive, including runs of 24 and 15 yards, to make it 44-0.

The Green Knights avoided the shutout with a pair of late TD passes against the Bulldog reserves.

“We’re proud of the effort,” said Tout. “We just need to stay focused and get ready for our next game.”

QUOTEABLE … “He gives us that mobility ... he does a nice job of keeping plays alive,” said Tout about quarterback Frame.

NEXT MAN UP … With running back Izaiah Ramos out, the Bulldogs got some standout play from Tosh (104 yards on nine carries), Abidelli (two TDs) and Jimenez-Wittong (two TDs).

CATCHING ON … Five different receivers pulled in passes from Frame. Bailey Smith led the way with three catches for 48 yards.

GRUNT WORK … Tout praised his four starting defensive linemen - Jayden Krempasky, Sam Frame, Jr., Jimenez-Wittong and Landon Moll. Moll had two sacks in the game.

KNIGHT TIME … Pen Argyl’s junior wideout Damian Tyminski can play with the best. He had six receptions for 116 yards.