Grayson Sabo delivered the blow that animated his Upper Perkiomen teammates during last week's season opener, running over a Boyertown defender during the second quarter. The play set the tone for a dominant victory.
            "Grayson lit the fuse," head coach Dan Heinrichs said.
 

Grayson Sabo rolls to his right against Boyertown.  Upper  Perkiomen's senior quarterback completed 7 of 10 passes for 98 yards in a 24-0 win last week.

            The Indians allowed just five first downs in a 24-0 road victory on Friday, Aug. 28. They christened Boyertown's new turf field by surrendering just 121 yards of total offense.
            Ryder Jones scored a defensive touchdown, while Aaron Maiden caught a 40-yard touchdown pass and registered an interception. Zach Adam, whose 86-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach, finished with 121 yards on 13 carries for the Tribe (1-0), which posted its second season-opening win in three seasons.
            Brody Lash added a 23-yard field goal and converted three points after touchdown for the Tribe, which overcame two turnovers and five penalties to post its first shutout in the series since a 13-0 road victory over the Bears on Sept. 15, 1967. The defense registered seven tackles for a loss.
            "The outcome was great," said Heinrichs, who improved to 2-2 in season debuts. "But I know that if we want to get better, we have to keep working."
            According to the coach, Sabo's aggressive finish to a carry midway through the second quarter provided the spark his players needed, even though a penalty negated an 11-yard gain. The senior quarterback ran over a Boyertown defender along the far sideline before going out of bounds.
            "The play got the team going," Heinrichs said. "We needed it."
            Upper Perkiomen's defense opened the scoring early in the second quarter. Jones, a junior linebacker, scooped up a loose ball and ran nine yards untouched into the end zone with 9:16 left before halftime. Estrela Kubola, a senior defensive tackle, forced Boyertown quarterback Gavin Royce to drop the ball.
            Maiden's interception late in the second quarter along the near sideline set up his touchdown with less than 51 seconds remaining in the quarter. Running a deep crossing pattern, Maiden caught the ball around the 10-yard line and split two defenders. Sabo had tight end Nate Schramm open on a shallow flat route, but connected with the deeper target to put his team ahead 14-0 at halftime.
            Lash's field goal, with 4 minutes, 15 seconds left in the third quarter, capped the initial drive of the second half. Sabo and Adam led the Indians on a 14-play, 65-yard drive.
            Sabo ran for 21 yards on six carries, while Adam ran for 16 yards on six carries. Adam's 27-yard reception gave them a first-and-goal at the Bears' 9-yard line.
            The second-year starting quarterback, listed at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, threw for 90 yards on 7-of-10 passing before exiting the game with the entire starting offense midway through the fourth quarter. Sabo completed three passes to Maiden for 44 yards.
            Adam's 86-yard TD run less than three minutes into the fourth quarter capped the scoring. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior outran Caden Rotonda, a senior cornerback, along the far sideline.
            Corbin Engle, a sophomore, led the Indians' defense with seven tackles, including two for a loss. Parker Munio, a junior linebacker, added five, including one for a loss.
            Braeden O'Donnell and Kubola each added four tackles, two of which were for a loss. Jones, a cornerback, broke up one pass.
            Engle finished with a team-high seven tackles, including two for a loss. Parker Munio, a junior linebacker, added five, including one for a loss.
            Braeden O'Donnell and Kubola each added four tackles, two of which were for a loss. Jones, a cornerback, broke up one pass.
            "The defense played great," Heinrichs said of the unit that allowed just five first downs. "A lot of our young guys stepped up. I was not quite sure what to expect."
            The Tribe will play its first home game at 7 p.m. tonight. The team will compete on its new turf field against Fleetwood at Keeny Stadium.