Easton Area High School football team defeats Dieruff High School 35-0

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

It wasn't spectacular but it served a purpose.

Easton Area High School's methodical 35-0 victory over winless Dieruff at J. Birney Crum Stadium on Friday night was an efficient building block to steer the Red Rovers into the latter stages of their season.

Senior James Middleton rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns and junior reserve Ryan Williams contributed 99 yards on the ground, including scoring runs of 32 and 60 yards.

Quarterback Ian Hayden threw an 8-yard strike to tight end Matt Mowad for Easton's other TD.

Easton (4-2 overall, 3-2 Lehigh Valley Conference) built a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter and Red Rovers coach Steve Shiffert essentially cleared his bench for the remainder of the evening.

"We planned on getting a couple (touchdowns) on the board and getting everybody in the game," said Shiffert, who expressed displeasure over his team's two turnovers. "There are a lot of kids on our scout team who do a good job and they got a chance to play."

One of those scout team players, Williams, raced 32 yards into the end zone on a draw play to give the Red Rovers a 28-0 lead with 5:14 left in the first half.

"It was good to see (Williams) have some success and get into the end zone," Shiffert said.

Late in the third quarter, Williams found another huge hole up the middle and sprinted 60 yards across the goal line to cap the scoring. The rest of the game was played under the 35-point mercy rule.

"It was just a trap," Williams said. "The line blocked real good. We played good today."

Senior defensive end Jose Rojas made his presence felt early with a tackle for loss, a sack and a hurry of Dieruff quarterback Christopher Clarke.

"It was a great experience," Rojas said. "It's always good to get a win. We practiced hard and the coaches helped get us ready as a team."

Mowad partially blocked a punt by Dieruff's Jonathan Singleton to set up his touchdown reception. Xavier Jenkins and Kyler Kilpatrick had interceptions for the Red Rovers.

The latter, which came on the last play of the game, preserved the shutout with Dieruff on Easton's 5-yard line.

"We performed as a solid unit," Rojas said. "A lot of young guys got some experience, so that was good."

Easton took a 7-0 lead on its first possession when Middleton's 4-yard run on a pitch left climaxed a 51-yard drive in eight plays.

Two series later Middleton found a gap upfield and made a sharp cut to his left before running 49 yards for his second score. Chris Roubik's second of five extra points gave the Red Rovers a 14-0 lead with 1:06 left in the first quarter.

The task gets considerably tougher for the Red Rovers, who play Emmaus Friday at Cottingham Stadium.

"After Emmaus, we have the three Bethlehems (at Freedom, Liberty, at Bethlehem Catholic),"Shiffert said. "Our biggest challenge is getting the intensity back up."

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