Passing game gives Cheltenham a boost

Without a workhorse ballcarrier in the stable, Cheltenham coach Joe Gro originally expected to take a running-back-by-committee approach to gaining the bulk of yardage on offense this season.

That thinking changed when quarterback Kenneth Cropper, a junior and second-year starter, began spraying the ball around to a number of receivers. Thanks in large part to his surprising production, the Panthers are 3-0 for the first time since 2003.

"We certainly anticipated throwing more, but to be honest, I didn't expect to pass this much," Gro said.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Cropper, flying under the radar entering the 2010 campaign, has completed 31 of 48 passes (64.6 percent) for 705 yards and eight touchdowns. "He's a hardworking kid, diligent about his preparation," Gro said.

Cheltenham, which last season went 3-9 overall and 2-4 in the Suburban One League American Conference, has three multipurpose backs: Dan Rouse, Chris Stephens, and Aquil Reed. LeKan Ajibade is primarily a wideout in a spread-motion scheme.

"We're not looking for one target," Gro said. "We have several kids we think are competent. We want to spread it out."

Before the season, Gro planned to use Rouse, a 5-11, 175-pound senior who threw a TD pass in an opening win against Harry S Truman, only as a running back. "I realized, though, that we couldn't afford to lose the other things he does for us," the coach said.

Of the offensive line, which includes 6-foot, 185-pound senior tight end Jonathan Tsipori, Gro said, "It's been a pleasant surprise so far."

The squad's 4-4 defense, yielding 11 points per game, has been led by ends Richard Levine (6-3, 230) and Logan Niederriter (5-11, 195).

Rouse, Orvin Liburd, and Tedi Lester are the mainstays at linebacker, with Ajibade and Jamir Bullock rotating at one of the outside spots. The secondary includes Cropper, Stevens, Reed, and Bazil Williams, who fills in at safety and cornerback.

Lester missed the first two games because of a knee injury. Liburd, a quality wrestler, signed up just before training camp. "I never anticipated that he would actually make an impact," Gro said. "In practices, he wears us out."

On Friday, in the American Conference opener for both teams, Cheltenham will host Upper Dublin (2-1). The Cardinals are fueled on offense by tailback Anthony Williams.

Said Gro: "They run the ball really, really well. If they have to throw against us, that means we're having some success."

More than baseball. Known best for the talent it regularly produces on the diamond, Boyertown is making noise on the gridiron.

The Bears, directed by rising QB Dylan Pasik and running backs Jared Von Dohren and Tom Froehlich, handed Pioneer Athletic Conference rival Pottsgrove, which came in ranked No. 5 by the Inquirer, a 34-28 loss Friday.

The 6-3, 200-pound Pasik, a second-year starter, ran for a 3-yard TD and hooked up with Brook David for a 55-yard score.

Boyertown, guided by third-year boss Mark Scisly, is 3-0 for the first time since 1991. The Bears will visit Pope John Paul II at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Extra points. Friday's Suburban One League American Conference matchup between Upper Merion and host Norristown, set for Roosevelt Field, has been moved back to 7 p.m., the original start time. . . . In Friday's game-clinching tackle of West Catholic's Joshua Mathis, dropped two yards behind the line of scrimmage, La Salle's tacklers were strong safety/linebacker Mark DiFrangia, end Joe Naji, and tackle Kieran Trainer. . . . In Garnet Valley's 34-14 win over Conestoga last week, the Jaguars ran on all 81 plays from scrimmage. That included a third-quarter play in which punter Nathan Miller, with Garnet Valley at its own 11, intentionally stepped out of the end zone for a safety.