Allentown High School is off to a high-flying start to the 2018 football season.
In their first three games, the Redbirds outscored opponents, 109-35, en route to three victories.
Quarterback Dan Merkel, running back Rahsaan Emory and wide receiver Chris McCrea emerged as a prolific trio in those victories. And they nearly led Allentown to its most impressive victory yet on Sept. 27.
The Redbirds fell to the South Jersey power, Lenape High School, 27-24, at home, dropping to 3-1.
Allentown led by four points late in the fourth quarter. But Lenape blocked a field goal attempt and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown, taking a three-point lead that held up.
Lenape is the returning South Jersey, Group 5 state sectional playoff champion. Allentown fell in the opening round of the Central Jersey, Group 4 state playoffs last year.
It was a tough loss, but thanks to Merkel, Emory and McCrea, Allentown was in position to win.
Merkel threw for 346 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown to McCrea down the center of the field. The sophomore showed off his big arm by connecting on six passes of 20 yards or longer.
He floated perfect spirals to receivers down the sidelines. He fired bullets to cutting wideouts over the middle. He even scrambled to buy time for his targets when they didn’t get open right away.
Merkel’s electric play helped Allentown erase an early 13-0 deficit with 17 straight points.
“Dan played great. Over the first three games he was just feeling his way, and struggled a bit at times,” said Allentown coach Jay Graber. “But I thought tonight he played very strong and with a lot of poise.”
More than any other receiver, McCrea was the beneficiary of Merkel’s big arm. The brawny, speedy wideout reeled in five passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.
Four of his catches went for 20 yards or longer. They all picked up first downs, besides, of course, the 87-yard score.
“They do have a nice chemistry,” Graber said. “They work hard in practice at it.”
Their chemistry set up Emory to do what he does best: finish drives. The battering running back did not break any big runs on Sept. 27. But he scored a seven-yard touchdown and a five-yard touchdown, bowling over defenders on both plays.
Upon reaching the end zone, Emory flexed his muscles and shouted. He had to fight for every yard on Sept. 27, averaging 3.5 yards per carry.
Emory broke the 100-yard mark in Allentown’s previous two games. He also now has six touchdowns in four games.
“Lenape’s a great defense. They play every game low-scoring,” Graber said. “I don’t think Rahsaan was bottled up as much as they were just a great defensive team.”
Allentown was also strong defensively on Sept. 27, holding the Indians to two touchdowns. Special teams was the difference in the game, as Lenape had two return touchdowns and Allentown missed two field goals.
But the Redbirds are normally strong on special teams, so Graber is not worried. He is confident his team will get back on track on Oct. 6 at Trenton Central High School.
“We know that we can be competitive against anybody because Lenape is a top-level team,” Graber said. “We just need to play with confidence and start faster.”
