It was such a team win that everyone stood out. But if one had to single out one individual, that individual would have to be Alon Rhette.
It was Week Zero, but Rhette and his Palmyra football squad appeared to be in mid-season form.
On Friday night in Camp Hill, Rhette’s Cougars opened their 2016 scholastic football campaign with a surprising 31-0 whitewashing of the home-standing Lions. While the Cougars excelled in all facets of the game – special teams, defense, kicking – it was the running game that stood out.
Operating behind an active offensive line, Rhette churned and bulled and powered his way to 122 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. Rhette, a tough running senior, spearheaded a Cougar running attack that produced 208 yards on the ground.
Rhette’s touchdown with 44 ticks remaining in the opening quarter got the Cougars off and running, staking them to a 7-0 lead. Rhette then applied the finishing touch to the triumph 30 seconds into the final period when he raced into the right side of the end zone from 28 yards out.
Palmyra is coming off a 2015 season in which it qualified for the District Three playoffs.
– Jeff Falk