Spring-Ford holds off late charge by Chester

A win is a win, especially the first of the season, but Spring-Ford's Chad Brubaker was less than thrilled about his team's 28-20 nonleague triumph over host Chester on Saturday.

The Rams coughed the ball up three times, committed seven penalties, were hurt by poor tackling, and went scoreless in the second half.

"We didn't play with any heart," Brubaker said. "We were sluggish in pregame warm-ups, and that carried over into the game. We better figure things out quickly because we have some big games coming up."

Spring-Ford's second fumble in the opening 4 minutes, on a muffed punt, allowed the Clippers to take an early lead. Halfback Devan Freeman's 2-yard dive and quarterback Tahree Fuller-Bryan's conversion run made it 8-0.

The Rams responded with back-to-back scores, Stephen Brill's 33-yard burst and James Albert's 2-yard run, to move in front, 14-8.

Midway through the second quarter, T.J. Pergine found Tyler Edwards, who was surrounded by three defenders along the visiting sideline, for a 35-yard tally.

A blocked punt set up a fourth unanswered scores. Pergine hooked up with Mitchell Vagnozzi on the left flank for an 8-yard TD that put Spring-Ford (1-1) comfortably ahead, 28-8, at the break.

Chester (0-2) opened the second half with a six-play, 43-yard drive and cut the gap in half on Freeman's 5-yard run. Fuller-Bryan completed throws of 11, 15, and 26 yards in the series.

Late in the third quarter, the Clippers (0-2) trimmed the Rams' lead to 28-20 on Cahron Wilmore's 63-yard jaunt.

"We started out a little slow, got things going in the third quarter, but we didn't finish at the end," Chester second-year coach LaDontay Bell said.

Spring-Ford, which last season went 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the PIAA District 1 Class 6A playoffs before losing to North Penn, lost all of its defensive starters to graduation. The Rams fell to visiting Unionville, 26-17, in their 2017 opener.

Brubaker said six sophomores see considerable playing time. That group includes Albert, a running back and linebacker, two-way lineman Gunnar Romano, and receiver and kick returner Ryan Engro.

"It's one thing to have growing pains, but it's another thing not to play with energy and enthusiasm," Brubaker said.

Pergine, who last season threw for 2,200 yards and 27 TDs, connected on 13 of 21 passes for 175 yards and two scores against the Clippers. Halfback Justin DeFrancesco carried 16 times for 112 yards.

"We played well at times," Brubaker said. "But we're struggling to find an identity. It has to happen soon."

Spring-Ford 14 14 0 0-28

Chester 8 0 12 0-20

C: Devan Freeman 2 run (Tahree Fuller-Bryan run)

SF: Stephen Brill 33 run (Taylor Smith kick)

SF: James Albert 2 run (Smith kick)

SF: Tyler Edwards 25 pass from T.J. Pergine (Smith kick)

SF: Mitchell Vagnozzi 8 pass from Pergine (Smith kick)

C: Freeman 5 run (pass failed)

C: Cahron Wilmore 63 run (run failed)