Owen J. Roberts routs Pottstown

Owen J. Roberts showed yesterday that it's more than sophomore sensation Ryan Brumfield's show as quarterback Dan Miller led the host Wildcats to a 34-13 victory over Pottstown in the 50th Thanksgiving Day meeting between the schools.

On a day on which Brumfield became the school's all-time leading rusher, Miller scored a pair of touchdowns on 1-yard runs and added two more passing.

It was the 30th win for Owen J. Roberts in the series that began in 1959. There has been one tie.

The Wildcats, who finished their season at 10-1, spotted the Trojans (3-9) an early 7-0 lead, then came back with 28 unanswered points before halftime.

Miller began the Wildcats' comeback less than two minutes after Kenny Baker staked Pottstown to a

lead just three minutes into the game by scoring on a 37-yard run.

The Wildcats failed to convert on their first touchdown but, thanks to Miller's second running touchdown, they took the lead, 14-7, 45 seconds before the first quarter ended.

"That was a great feeling today, to turn things around the way we did," Miller said, referring to the team's 3-9 record last season.

The Wildcats finished the season with only a loss to Pioneer Athletic Conference champion Pottsgrove. Miller and his teammates were hoping for a St. Pius upset over the Falcons yesterday, which would have given the Wildcats a shot at a share of the conference championship. But the Falcons won easily.

Miller said his team couldn't be concerned with that game.

"We had to stay focused on this one. Pottstown came ready to play, and it took us a while to get going," said Miller, who wants to play college football but is undecided on where he's going.

When Miller hit Kevin Fitch with an 18-yard touchdown pass in the closing seconds of the first half, it was all over.

Miller managed to keep defenders at bay by running until Fitch got free.

"I try to hang in there. When I first saw him, he was covered. Then he got free. I was just trying to make something happen," Miller said. He later connected with Francis Poligano on another touchdown pass.

Although limited to one touchdown on a 20-0 yard run, Brumfield picked up 145 yards rushing to take his career total to 2,243.

"It was just great to see everybody else get into the action," Brumfield said.

The Wildcats were coming off a 33-14 loss Nov. 14 in the District 1 Class AAA semifinals. Pottstown had not played a game since beating Springfield in Montgomery County on Nov. 8.

Pottstown 7 0 0 6 - 13

Owen J. Roberts 6 21 7 0 - 34

P: Endy 37 run (Ayer kick)

OJR: Miller 1 run (kick failed)

OJR: Miller 1 run (Brumfield run)

OJR: Fitch 18 pass from Miller (Lepore kick)

OJR: Poligano 17 pass from Miller (kick failed)

OJR: Brumfield 20 run (Lepore kick)

P: Baker 5 run (pass failed)