Head coach Brian Gilbert always emphasizes fast starts, so it's a pretty good idea to put the ball in the hands of Saquon Barkley to help accomplish that mission.

On the Zephyrs first play from scrimmage, Barkley bolted 95 yards to give visiting Whitehall the lead against Pleasant Valley High School. That was just the start for the senior running back who wound up with 276 yards rushing and three touchdowns en route to a 41-21 win to keep the Zephyrs unbeaten.

That opening play was predicated upon field position, said Gilbert. After bobbling the kickoff, the Zephyrs recovered the ball at their own five, setting up the conservative get-it-out-from-the-shadow-of-you-end-zone call. However, anytime Barkley touches the ball, those conservative calls can turn into big plays.

"Our guys just need to give him a crease and he can go at any time," said Gilbert.

It's Barkley's second run over 90 yards this season. He had a 92-yarder right before the half against Pocono Mountain West in the opener.

On this play, Barkley saw an opening and left a trail of would-be tacklers in his wake.

"I saw a cutback [lane], and cut back, and then I had to outrun two guys for the score," said Barkley.

Barkley credits his offensive line for giving him space in which to operate. That's led to 560 yards on the ground so far this season.

"The guys do a great job blocking for me," said Barkley. "The offensive line opens the holes, and our wide receivers do a good job blocking down the field."

Barkley is also great at getting yards after initial contact. He's tough to bring down one-on-one, and he has a series of moves that often times leaves the opposition grasping at air.

The Zephs rolled up 526 yards on offense. Their second quarter was extremely efficient, scoring on each of their three possessions. They had drives of 73, 80 and 43 yards in that frame, underscoring their ability to sustain drives as well as hit for the quick six. That quarter turned out to be the difference maker as both teams traded touchdowns in the other three periods.

The Bears packed their own punch with Austyn Borre who rumbled for 194 yards on 15 carries. Those yards included a couple of big runs, an area that the Zephs will have to "shore up" defensively, said Gilbert. Still, he applauded the progress they've made as a unit.

"Overall, it was an improvement from the week prior," said Gilbert.

The Zephs complemented their run game with a productive passing attack. Quarterback Gianni Sinatore finished the game 15-19 for 153 yards and two TDs. He also added 34 yards on the ground. He was instrumental in those three second quarter drives, overcoming three holding penalties in one of those possessions to finally score on a keeper to widen their lead to 20-7.

"He was very efficient," said Gilbert. "He had some nice throws, and he ran the ball well. He's going to get better each week."

Gilbert also commended the offense for the way they got a number of players involved in the game.

"I liked that fact that we spread the ball around," he said.

Chad Rex and Conor Sullivan each had six catches, while Mustafa Mitchell, Barkley and Zach Hixson each had one catch in the win. Both Mitchell's and Hixson's catches were for scores, as Sinatore connected with Mitchell on a 25-yard strike in the fourth quarter, while Hixson grabbed a four-yard TD pass in the third.

After three games, Gilbert said that the offensive and defensive lines have shown marked improvement. He knows that their play up front often dictates the outcome of a game.

"As long as they continue to improve, we'll get better as a team," he said.

The win marks their third in a row. Gilbert said that their preparation for the tilt against the Bears was a key to coming out on top.

"I really liked our approach to the game," said Gilbert. "We practiced much better, and it reflected on how we played early in the game."

While Barkley's supersized season may grab a lot of the spotlight, the senior enjoys the camaraderie of being part of a team. He said he's doing something he enjoys with his best friends. He said their ability to stick together and come through for one another fueled their comeback win over Allentown Central Catholic last week.

"We are like a family," said Barkley. "We played together as a team, and we had each other's back."

Barkley also said the way the community rallies around the team, driving long distances to see them play, inspires them. He also likes to put smiles on the faces of the little Zephyrs who come to watch them play.

And they had a lot to smile about last Friday.

However, he knows this upcoming stretch of games will put them to the test. They face Liberty, Parkland and Easton in succession.