Sometimes a team’s game plan is pretty straight forward. Pen Argyl’s game plan on Friday against Palmerton was just that — line up and grind and pound the football.

The Green Knights (1-1) dominated in the trenches on both sides of the football, defeating the Bombers 24-7.

“We challenged our guys tonight to come out and play physical and they answered that challenge,” said Pen Argyl head coach Brady Mutton. “We were able to move the ball well last week at times, but we didn’t finish drives. So, that was an emphasis for us tonight. You have to play physical football for 48 minutes, and our guys were able to accomplish that tonight.”

The Palmerton (0-2) offense could not get in a rhythm, especially in the first half. Pen Argyl held the Bombers scoreless in the first half, while putting together long drives and chewing up the clock with quarterback Mason Soos and running back Caiden Faust.

The Green Knights opening drive went 10 plays and 59 yards, culminating in a 26-yard field goal by Reid Kotulka to take a 3-0 lead at the 5:20 mark of the first. Pen Argyl would put together another lengthy drive in the second. Soos would rush five times for 36 yards on the drive, finishing it off with a one-yard score to make it a two-score game (10-0) late in the half.

On the other hand, the Bombers offense would have just three possessions in the first half, with those drives ending in two punts and a turnover on downs. The Palmerton offense had just two first downs in the first half.

“First of all, hats off to Pen Argyl. You could tell they were playing hungry tonight to get a win,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “Up front was the difference on both sides of the ball. They brought it. They controlled the time of possession and the line of scrimmage all night. We knew what was coming and we knew what they wanted to do. Against an offense like that you have to win first down and put them in tough positions, and we weren’t able to do that. And then offensively, we never were able to get going. We had some costly turnovers as well. We just need to get back to work and have a good week of practice and work to get better.”

Palmerton’s first costly turnover came on its first possession of the second half. The Bombers would lose a fumble on their second play of the drive around midfield. The Green Knights would take advantage, going 45 yards in nine plays capped off by a Faust three-yard plunge to extend their lead to 17.

“We weren’t able to force any turnovers last week and I thought that hurt us in that game as well,” said Mutton. “So, we wanted to come in here and force a few turnovers, because we really thought it could be the difference in the game. We got two tonight at key moments in the game.”

The Bombers did try to get back into the game, putting together a scoring drive late in the third quarter to pull within 10 (17-7). Jameson Trainer would finish off the drive with a three-yard quarterback run, which was set up by two big Pen Argyl penalties — a face mask and late hit — to give the Palmerton offense a spark.

Pen Argyl would pull away for good midway through the fourth on a big 28-yard scamper to stretch its advantage to 24-7. Palmerton would get down to the Green Knights three-yard line on its ensuing possession, but the drive would end on an interception in the back of the end zone.

RUSHING DUO … Soos (145 yards) and Faust (137 yards) combined for 52 carries and 282 yards rushing and three rushing scores.

FIRST DOWN … Pen Argyl consistently moved the sticks throughout the night. The Green Nights tallied 21 first downs compared to just eight for Palmerton.

DOMINANT D … Pen Argyl held the Bombers offense to just 94 total yards.

Pen Argyl 24, Palmerton 7

Pen Argyl 3 7 7 7 - 24

Palmerton 0 0 7 0 - 7

Scoring Summary

PA - Kotulka 26 FG

PA - Soos 1 run (Kotulka kick)

PA - Faust 3 run (Kotulka kick)

P - Trainer 3 run (T. Anthony kick)

PA - Soos 28 run (Kotulka kick)