Parkland digs deep in win over Easton

FROM MIKE BLOUSE

With clumps of grass hanging from his face mask and mud caked on his uniform, Rob Dvoracek was too wet, too dirty and too tired to untie his own cleats for the bus ride back to Parkland High School. So his father, John, proudly did the duties.

"That's Robbie's father," Parkland coach Jim Morgans pointed out. "I don't want you to think we have someone who ties and unties his shoes."

Dvoracek deserved the royal treatment on Friday night. He rushed for 114 yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans' 24-0 win over Easton in a Lehigh Valley Conference football clash at Cottingham Stadium.

Parkland, which was coming off a deflating 23-20 loss last week to Emmaus, improved to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference. Easton is 2-2 and 1-2.

A 6-foot-1, 215-pound battering ram, Dvoracek consistently chunked the Red Rovers' typically stingy 'D' as Parkland seized control in the second quarter. The Temple-bound running back scored on runs of 19 yards in the second period, 11 in the third and 5 yards with 2:01 remaining.

"I never played in a pouring rain like tonight," said Dvoracek, who also made numerous tackles from his linebacker position and handled the punting. "I loved it. … We'd practiced a couple times in driving rain, but we had to stop and get inside because of lightning.

"I think everyone loves it and I think we play our best in the mud. It was pretty much a mess. It was all about keeping your footing."

Dvoracek suffered from cramps during last week's game against Emmaus, and Morgans said the plan was to keep No. 42 off the field on offense for the first half. That master plan was scrapped late in the first quarter.

He entered and made an immediate impact. After an Easton fumble deep in Trojans' territory, Dvoracek carried six times for 46 yards on the night's first scoring drive. He went around right end from 19 yards out after taking the direct snap from center. (Quarterback Tim Baranek's 34-yard run keyed the drive.)

"He's a horse, especially in this type of weather," Morgans said. "He kept saying he was ready, so we went with him. And then we saddled him up and rode him all night."

"We knew he'd be a challenge," Easton coach Steve Shiffert said of Dvoracek. "He's an excellent football player who plays very physical."

Easton actually controlled the action in the first 15 minutes. The Red Rovers drove to Parkland's 30 but were forced to punt; started a drive at the Trojans' 20 but missed a field goal attempt; and reached the 17-yard-line but fumbled the ball away.

"We missed our opportunities," Shiffert said. "We fumbled at the 18 and then they drive the length of the field."

Parkland's first scoring drive covered 82 yards. The Trojans' other three scoring drives covered a total of 69 yards. Blocked punts by sophomore Elijah Redmond and junior Tanner Stengel set up 10 second-half points for Morgans' squad.

Overall, Parkland rushed for 172 yards and Baranek hit on 2 of 3 passes for 21 yards.

"It was a field position-type game," Morgans said. "We got a running game going and had a couple big blocked punts. This was a total team effort."

Dvoracek singled out the offensive linemen, who paved his way. The Trojan defense, coordinated by Sam Senneca, was equally impressive.

Easton managed just 76 rushing and 51 passing yards. The Red Rovers lost three fumbles and had the two punts blocked. Parkland also shut out Easton at Cottingham Stadium in 2008, winning 26-0.

While Shiffert's Rovers travel to play unbeaten Whitehall next week, Parkland faces another tough test in Liberty. The Trojans desperately needed a strong performance against Easton after losing a late lead to Emmaus.

"Last week was a tough loss," Morgans said. "I challenged the kids (last) Saturday … you just can't have nine penalties and four turnovers and expect to beat a good LVC team. The leaders stepped up and we had a great week of practice. I'm very happy with our effort, especially coming to Easton and playing in a tough environment.

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