For the majority of its opening drive of the game, the Northampton football team knew it could move the ball and compete with the six-time defending District 11 champions Parkland.

Even after ending up scoreless after that drive, the Kids used enough plays offensively that gave them confidence in being able to put up points against a team known for always having a stingy defense.

But a rough third quarter, which featured two interceptions into the hands of Trojans players, proved to be the doom for Northampton as it dropped its 2018 season opener 41-0 last Friday night at Parkland School District Stadium in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference action.

“I was pleased with how we played in the first half,” said first-year head coach Kyle Haas. “But we weren’t able to move the ball offensively or stop the ball defensively in the second half. When they scored those 28 points in the third quarter that was just too much for us to overcome.”

Defensively, Northampton held Parkland to just one touchdown and two field goals in the first half, trailing just 13-0 at halftime, and was in a good position to adjust in the locker room.

But the Kids were unable to move the chains after the intermission. The Trojans held them to just 80 yards of total offense, and five first downs all game. They had a three-and-out on their first possession of the second half, followed by the two turnovers within their next three possessions.

“I told the kids, ‘All of our goals are in front of us,’” Haas said. “We have to focus on our division (EPC North). Dieruff’s our next opponent. We have to watch the film, and we have to look at it and say, ‘Where can we get better?’ Then we have to start working on that.”

Parkland senior running back Joey Guida did most of the damage on the ground for the Trojans, who were breaking in new quarterbacks. Guida finished with 139 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, including a four-yarder to cap a 59-yard opening drive.

Dominic Nelson, who played in a backup role to Guida, but also saw plenty of action last season, tallied a touchdown of his own in the third quarter as the Trojans used the legs of their running backs to ease the transition of their new quarterbacks.

Senior Andrew Lee got the start in the opening series, but traded series thereafter in the first half with junior Tanner Lewis. Neither signal caller recorded a touchdown through the air, but both moved the ball down the field, did not turn the ball over, and used their own legs in creating offense.