Rick O'Brien: 'Spy' kept OJR's star in check

A little espionage work, as in assigning a "spy" to keep extra-close tabs on a record-setting running back, helped pave the way to Spring-Ford's upset of Pioneer Athletic Conference rival Owen J. Roberts on Friday.

Chase Stewart, normally a fixture at tailback, was assigned the task of mirroring Ryan Brumfield's backfield position, lining up seven yards away from the Wildcats' all-time leading rusher.

The defensive tactic is often calling spying.

"The offensive line couldn't account for [Stewart]," Rams first-year coach Chad Brubaker said.

With Stewart's efforts and gang-tackling on every play, Brumfield was held to less than 100 yards through three quarters and host Spring-Ford posted a 20-7 win in the PAC-10 opener before an overflow crowd at Coach McNelly Stadium.

"Brumfield was rarely tackled by one player," Brubaker said. "It was three or four kids. For us to be good, we need 11 guys running to the football."

The Rams, coming off a 3-9 season, are 3-0 overall, with nonleague victories against West Chester East and Sussex Tech (Del.).

Before replacing Gary Rhodenbaugh, Brubaker, 38, was an assistant for 12 seasons, including four as offensive coordinator, at Wilson-West Lawn High, outside of Reading. His other stop was at Elizabethtown High, in northwestern Lancaster County.

Against OJR, Spring-Ford mixed defenses, using 6- and 5-man fronts to contain Brumfield, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound speedster who entered the season with 5,745 career rushing yards. Its base defense is a 4-3.

"Brumfield is above average in every aspect of being a running back," said Brubaker, who teaches 11th-grade English. "You have to pinball him and then get help before he regains his feet or gets his balance."

Brumfield, netting 88 yards on his final two carries, finished with 186 yards on 31 attempts. He posted a 24-yard touchdown in the late going.

Spring-Ford's defensive headliners are ends and twin brothers Max and Bjorn Ullmann, linebackers Matt Krueger, James Hoff and Stephen Joyce, cornerbacks Andrew Keys and Damian Boham, and safeties Matt Glowacki and Ryan Conway.

The 5-8, 155-pound Glowacki returned a first-half interception 88 yards, from the Spring-Ford 4 to the OJR 8, to set up Stewart's 2-yard TD dive.

Glowacki, who returned punts for touchdowns against W.C. East and Sussex, is a part-time wide receiver. "He's smart, has a great nose for the football, and loves the game," Brubaker said. "When he's watching film, it's not lip service. He's learning."

In addition to Stewart, the offensive backfield features fellow running back Andrew Thomas and sophomore quarterback Hank Coyne. Three players, including Conway, are used in Wildcat sets. "We try to present different looks," Brubaker said.

When the Rams beat W.C. East on Sept. 3, it marked the program's first season-opening win since 2000.

Ground Chuck. Why was ex-76er and current TNT hoops analyst Charles Barkley on the St. Joseph's Prep sideline for the first three quarters of Saturday night's nonleague tilt at North Penn?

Barkley is close friends with Prep senior strong safety Phil Riehl's parents, Phil and Denise. The 5-10, 160-pound Riehl recorded a first-quarter solo tackle of tailback Craig Needhammer (15 carries for 80 yards).

La Salle-West Catholic. In the triumph over West Catholic, La Salle linebacker Connor Daly, who missed most of last season with a left knee injury suffered in Week 3 vs. the Burrs, was involved in a team-high nine tackles, including six solos. He dumped QB Jaleel Reel for an 8-yard loss late in the first half. . . . In the late going, on fourth-and-one from the La Salle 22, West's Brandon Hollomon (14 rushes for 84 yards) was stopped behind the line of scrimmage by end Joe Naji and tackle Kieran Trainer. . . . For the Explorers, QB Matt Magarity (groin), fullback Tim Wade (ankle) and cornerback Ryan Otis (shoulder) sat out the second half with injuries.