Consecutive second-quarter sacks allowed Upper Perkiomen to take command of its Pioneer Athletic Conference season opener. The second sack, by Trevor Stephen, extended the team's lead by two points.

            The safety helped propel the visiting Indians to a 44-20 victory over Phoenixville.

"It feels good to get back on the winning side again," head coach Tom Hontz said after his team snapped a two-game losing streak and rallied from a 56-0 loss to Cocalico. "We were able to gain some confidence and feel good about ourselves."

            Tyler Whary ran for a game-high 195 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries for the Indians (1-0 PAC, 3-2 overall). Tyrese Reid added 108 yard and two scores on 11 carries.  "When this team is going good, we want to pound the rock," Whary said.

            With a 15-9 lead, Upper Perkiomen defensive coordinator Brian Peoples dialed up a pair of linebacker blitzes against the Phantoms (0-1, 0-5), who were backed up inside their own 20-yard-line. The linebackers got to the quarterback on both sacks midway through the second quarter. Luke Whary recorded the initial sack for a six-yard loss on second down. On the next play, Stephen tackled Phantoms quarterback Connor Patania in the end zone to extend his team's lead to 17-9.

            According to Hontz, one of the outside linebackers wasn't supposed to blitz on the second sack. Tyler Whary, an inside linebacker, said his brother Luke unexpectedly raced towards the quarterback.  "I'll take it," Hontz said. "Everything worked out."

            The blitzes were intended to disrupt the Phoenivxille's running backs and make Patania feel uncomfortable in the pocket, according to Hontz. The team opened the game with a 14-play, 81-yard touchdown drive, then went ahead 9-7 on a 22-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

            Reid's 24-yard TD run, and the ensuing two-point conversion, with 7:18 left in the second, staked the Indians to a 15-9 lead. After adding the safety on the ensuing possession, they reeled off 21 of the next 24 points in the second half.

            Reid opened the third-quarter scoring with a five-yard TD run. Quarterback Tyler Keyser completed a 17-yard scoring pass to Austin Tutolo with 1:21 left in the quarter.

            Tyler Whary's three-yard TD run midway through the third quarter – which capped a six-play, 40-yard drive – staked Upper Perkiomen to a 38-12 advantage. His 7-yard scoring run midway through the fourth quarter capped the scoring.

            The running back lauded the performance of his offensive line. He mentioned Nick Benner, a senior right tackle who received significant after Logan Hollingsworth left the game with an injury. Keyser completed 6-of-11 passes for 112 yards. Bo Duka caught two passes for 36 yards to pace the Indians.

            The team continues its schedule with a home game against Upper Merion at 7 p.m. Thursday.