HORSHAM—Hatboro-Horsham took the field Friday night looking at the beginning of Suburban One American Conference play as a new opportunity. And the Hatters took advantage of that opportunity.
Joey Biermaas ran for 118 yards and a touchdown as the Hatters wore down William Tennent in the second half and rolled to a 24-14 win at N. Dennis Steinly Memorial Stadium.
After starting the season with four consecutive losses, Hatboro-Horsham has won its last two starts.
“We’ve played kind of a meat grinder of a schedule said Hatter coach Tom Butts, “and our record wasn’t where we wanted it to be. We’ve won two in a row and it’s a fresh start. We’re 1-0 in conference and that’s all that really matters right now.”
The Hatters utilized a back-to-basics approach and controlled the line of scrimmage, chewing up real estate and the clock in the process.
“{The offensive line} is a group that takes pride in everything they do,” Butts said. “That started December 1st in the weight room. Those guys up front literally don’t miss a day in the weight room.”
The hosts set the tone on the first drive of the game, one that covered 51 yards and consumed 6:48 on the clock. It ended with Brendan Heaphy’s one yard quarterback sneak.
Tennent answered with 10:01 left in the first half when Gavin Mensch scored from a yard out to cap a 38-yard drive that was triggered by a Hatter fumble.
The hosts regained the lead for good however with 3:55 left in the half thanks to a 74-yard march that ended one again with Heaphy’s one-yard sneak.
Tennent (2-4, 0-1 in conference) had just three possessions in the first half and ran just 12 offensive plays.
“I know we kicked off,” said Tennent coach Biz Keeny. “But, you’ve got to get a stop here and there. And we didn’t.”
The Panthers stepped up when they started the second half with a 55-yard drive. Brayden Rementer finished it with a 10-yard sprint off the right side.
That turned out to be the visitor’s last stand, The Hatters responded immediately with a 52-yard drive of their own with Biermaas covering the last 15, then recovered an onside kick.
Tennent got the ball back in the opening seconds of the final quarter but their drive fizzled thanks to a Biermaas interception that led to Heaphy’s 30-yard field goal with 2:12 remaining.
“I think this was a good step in the right direction,” Biermaas said. “We’ll be right there with the other American Conference} teams.
Biermaas cited control of the line of scrimmage as a key to the result.
“We kind of wore them down,” he said. “We play physical. A lot of inside runs a lot of power. We kind of wore them out.”
Hatboro-Horsham 24 William Tennent 14
William Tennent 0 7 7 0-¬14
Hatboro-Horsham 7 7 7 3_24
Scoring
HH-Heaphy 1 run (Heaphy kick)
WT-Mensch 1 run (Ward kick)
HH-Heaphy 1 run (Heaphy kick)
WT-Rementer 10 run (ward kick)
HH- Biermaas 15 run (Heaphy kick)
HH-Heaphy 30 field goal
William Tennent HH
First downs 9 17
Yards rushing 43 227
Passing; att.-comp-int 7-14-2 3-6-0
Passing yards 115 45
Total offense 158 272
Fumbles/Lost 3-0 1-1
Punts 1-27.0 0-0
Penalties 5-35 7-39
William Tennent
Rushing: Mensch 8-30, TD; Rementer 9-24, TD; Canales 2-6; Center pass 1- (-17)
Passing: Rementer 7-14-1, 115 yards
Receiving: Mensch 3-66, Garvin 3-44, Stanfield 1-5
Hatboro-Horsham
Rushing: Biermaas 16-118, TD; Heaphy 15-49, 2TDs; Garland 15-60
Passing: Heaphy 3-6-0, 45 yards
Receiving: Biermaas 2-19; Edwards 1-26