Tamaqua sophomore Terrance McDowell led his team to a 42-6 win over Salisbury last Friday night.

McDowell ran for 216 yards and scored four times to pace the hosts on Homecoming Night at Blue Raiders Stadium.

McDowell carried the ball 24 times and scored Tamaqua’s first four touchdowns, including a pair a two-yard runs and one for 19 yards. His final jaunt covered 51 yards. It topped a big first half for McDowell as he finished the half with 181 yards, helping the Raiders (2-3) jump out to a 28-0 advantage at intermission.

McDowell didn’t have much opportunity to enjoy his night. Immediately after the game McDowell had to strip off his shoulder pads, exchange them for a pair of quad drums, and join two of his teammates to perform with Tamaqua’s band.

“I didn’t want to pick,” McDowell said on playing both football and being in the band. “Even at home, I have my own drum set. Me and my buddies actually have a band. I love music. It’s an honor to be able to do both of the things I love.”

With his performance Friday, McDowell now has 796 yards rushing on the season and 11 touchdowns in his first year starting varsity at running back for Tamaqua. Friday was the fourth consecutive game McDowell’s gone over 100 yards. His season high was 273 yards during Tamaqua’s 35-27 loss to Jim Thorpe last week.

McDowell isn’t particularly big at 5-foot-9, 115 pounds, but is quickly becoming Tamaqua’ workhorse.

“He runs hard and he runs low,” Tamaqua head coach Sam Bonner said. “He keeps his feet churning. Sometimes I am like, ‘Man, he could of broken it outside.’ But I can’t complain when he’s getting 12 or 13 yards. My eyes aren’t his eyes. Obviously, he’s doing something right. He’s been doing a heck of a job the past five weeks.”

Tamaqua finished the night with 330 yards rushing and 14 first downs on the ground. Tamaqua’s offensive line opened up plenty of holes.

“Definitely the big guys up front,” McDowell said. “This week in practice, we really pushed. We had phenomenal practices all week and it translated to the game.”

The Blue Raiders held the Falcons (2-3) to 148 yards of total offense, including 53 on the ground, and zero in the first half. Frye was consistently under pressure and finished only 4-of-12 passing.

The Falcons’ only touchdown came on a 16-yard run by Jarrod Blunt early in the fourth quarter.

McDowell’s first score from two yards out after a 10-play, 70-yard drive.

The Blue Raiders’ next possession lasted only four plays and ended with McDowell’s second two-yard touchdown run.

McCabe’s fumble recovery set up Tamaqua again in Salisbury territory, this time at the 34. Three McDowell runs later, the final from 19 yards out, made it 20-0.

McDowell’s final run of the half was perhaps his best. On a 1st-and-10 play from the Blue Raiders’ 49, McDowell went over the right side of the line. He then cut back to the left around the 30 and outran the defenders the rest of the way.

“I see a lane and James (Nalesnik) likes to block guys to his right,” McDowell said of the run. “I am on the right, and I cut into the left and there is just no one. It’s just a footrace, basically. I know I am going to win that every time.”

Falcon quarterback Keaton Frye went 6-for-12 passing against Tamaqua with 83 yards and one interception. Blunt led the team with 48 rushing yards on seven carries. Jamanni Cruz (2 receptions, 34 yards) and Blunt (2-29) were Frye’s main targets last Friday.

The Falcons finished the first half of the season last week and start the second half this Friday night when the host Pen Argyl.

The Green Knights (4-1) beat Tamaqua 14-6 in their opener and followed it with a win over Palmerton (27-20) before suffering their first and only loss to Northern Lehigh (42-19). They beat Wilson (35-13) and Palisades (38-21) over the past two weeks.

Senior signal caller Mason Soos runs the Knights offense. He’s completed 56 of 94 passes this season for 750 yards. He’s thrown seven touchdown passes and just two interceptions.

Caiden Faust leads Pen Argyl’s run game with 414 yards on 75 carries. He’s scored seven times and has posted one game with over 100 rushing yards. Soos is second on the team with 62 carries for 225 yards.

Four different Green Knights have caught 10 or more passes this season, let by senior Zachary Metzgar (14 receptions, 208 yards, 2TD), senior Terrell Estes (15-142, TD), Faust (10-169, TD) and junior Anthony Beltran (10-98).

Senior Rocco DeCesare leads the Pen Argyl defense with 45 tackles.

The Knights will need to be careful not to look past the Falcons as they have a game against unbeaten Notre Dame (Green Pond) looming on Oct. 4.