Published: September 06, 2008 12:19 am            

H.S. FOOTBALL: Roy-Hart drops season opener

Rams open Class C North season with 40-6 loss to JFK.

MIDDLEPORT — The Royalton-Hartland Rams looked invincible Friday night — marching 62 yards to pay dirt in 13 plays, capped by Josh Foeller’s hard-fought 3-yard touchdown run around the right side.

But by then there were just 35 seconds left in the game — a game dominated throughout by the JFK Bears, who beat the Rams, 40-6, before a large, rain-soaked crowd at Bruno Pacini Field to open the Section VI Class C North season for both schools.

“It was a consolation (scoring the late touchdown) ... but we need to do that in the first half,” said Rams head coach Joe Caprio, whose team trailed by just seven after one, but fell behind 26-0 at halftime.

“We have to go back to work on Monday and keep our heads up. We’re going to keep plugging along.”

Foeller carried the load for Roy-Hart, finishing with 65 yards on 22 carries and a TD. Rams quarterback Adam Kress was 6-of-13 passing for 45 yards, including a sweet 29-yard first quarter completion to wide receiver Dan Hartley.

Rams fullback Jon Wells bulldozed his way through the middle for 44 yards on nine carries and lanky wide out Jeff Swick caught two passes for nine yards.

The Bears got two touchdowns from quarterback Aaron Schaefer (21 rushes, 78 yards, 2 TDs; 1-for-4 passing, 15 yards) and running back Adam Bartoszek (17 carries, 89 yards, 2 TDs), both seniors.

“We wanted to pound the ball on the ground and I think we did that successfully,” said Bears co-head coach Mark Sternkowski. “I thought we were able to move the ball on the ground very effectively.”

Chelsea Barnett sang the National Anthem before the start of the third quarter — yes third. A technical problem prohibited her from singling the song before the start of the game.

        

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