Parkland's offense opened its season by dashing through Delaware Valley's defense, piling up 448 rushing yards in a two-point loss.
Easton's combination of Shane Simpson and Austin Brown did similar damage to Pennsbury, dicing the Falcons for 397 rushing yards in a Week 1 rout.
So, when Parkland and Easton hook up Friday night, everyone should expect a game of ground-and-pound, right? Not if Easton coach Steve Shiffert and Parkland coach Jim Morgans see the progress they hope to from their offenses when two of the Lehigh Valley Conference's elite football programs meet for their league opener.
Despite the huge night Simpson produced against Pennsbury ? he ran for 289 yards and five scores ? Shiffert said the Red Rovers would strive for balance when they visit the Trojans. First-year starting quarterback Brad Wilkins went 4-for-12 for 22 yards and two interceptions in his varsity debut last week, but Shiffert said protection breakdowns hindered Wilkins' chances.
"It's going to be an area of concentration for us every week," Shiffert said. "We're going to work hard on it. We have to improve on it.
"We've got to give [Wilkins] a little bit more time to set his feet and throw," he added. "I'm sure Parkland knows that and will be blitzing from Down 1."
Whether Parkland's defense blitzes or sits back, it will have to account for Simpson. He began this season as the LVC's No. 2 returning receiver in terms of receptions, having caught 36 passes as a freshman. With Easton graduating most of its running-back talent from 2011, Simpson has slid back to the tailback spot he played during most of his football days.
The Red Rovers will be attacking a Parkland defense that disappointed Morgans in Week 1. The Trojans surrendered nearly 500 yards of total offense in their 37-35 loss at Delaware Valley, including a game-winning drive in the final 2 minutes.
"We just didn't play very well," Morgans said. "We're going to be challenged this week. They have to play better. Even at times their effort wasn't there. And it wasn't only that. We were misaligned. There were just things they didn't do and haven't done. I don't know if it was the excitement of the first game. I don't know what it was."
One area where Parkland excelled against Delaware Valley was with its running attack. Quarterback Tim Baranek ran for 155 yards and Jarel Elder added 126 for the Trojans.
They, like Easton, want to improve through the air this week. Baranek went 7-for-17 for 78 yards and threw a red-zone interception last week, one of three Parkland turnovers inside the 5-yard line that contributed to its loss.
"We ran the ball really well, but it's the spread offense, and we have to get the ball out there [with the pass]," Elder said. "But of course you can't be upset with 440 rushing yards either."
Parkland and Easton should at least see better conditions in which to throw the ball Friday than they had when they met last season, when Parkland won 24-0 in a driving rain at Cottingham Stadium. Friday's forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-80s and sunny skies in Allentown.
Nazareth's new dimension
With quarterback Dan Harding averaging 267.8 passing yards per game last season, Nazareth had the most prolific passing offense in the LVC.
Parish Simmons has since replaced the graduated Harding, giving the Blue Eagles an increased running threat for their spread offense.
Simmons, a 6-0, 175-pound senior, torched Pleasant Valley for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, including a 73-yard scoring run. Harding, by contrast, had just 199 rushing yards in 14 games last season.
Simmons, at least for now, lacks the polish Harding had as a passer, but he still hurt Pleasant Valley with some well-executed throws. He and Anthony Gaetaniello connected for touchdown passes of 46 and 29 yards, and he also found Alex Tonnies for a 39-yard gain.
Simmons finished 3-for-9 for 114 yards. He did not throw an interception.
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