Week 1 football scores: Palmyra's running back duo runs all over Lebanon

Playmakers make plays, and that's what happened Friday night in Palmyra.

To kickoff Pa. high school football season, Palmyra’s running backs led the way to a 40-8 win over Lebanon.

Senior Justin Kaplan put up three touchdowns, including two on special teams — while junior rusher Braxtin Risser added two scores and led the team with 117 yards. Risser’s longest rush of the day came on a 71-yard play, and Kaplan’s longest return was 75 yards.

“We've been in the weight room, counting down the days, getting hungry every day, and by tonight, we were starving,” Kaplan said. “We wanted to start the season with a win at the Buck, and we made a statement.”

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After an opening punt was fumbled by the Cedars, the Cougars’ running back duo began their stretch of dominance. The first touchdown was a 10-yard run by Risser, who evaded several Lebanon defenders on his way to the end zone. Kaplan’s touchdown followed soon, as he caught a pass and took it eight yards for Palmyra’s second score.

Everything went the Cougars’ way, as they led 40-0 before Lebanon’s first score came.

Each time Palmyra’s squad found the end zone or made a play, the group celebrated with each other. After the game, Palmyra’s Chris Pavone said his team’s tight bond has helped them to this point.

“When we're gonna have adversity this football season, we need to be able to come together as a family,” Pavone said.  “The seniors have really blended well with the underclassmen. That’s contagious in a positive way for our program.”

Palmyra’s senior captain, Kaplan, was feeling it, too, as he jumped and cheered with teammates each time the Cougars scored.

“Once we get momentum, it's hard to stop,” Kaplan said. “(Our energy) just keeps on rolling, and it's like a boulder rolling down a hill.”

After a pair of return touchdowns tonight, Kaplan said he just began returning punts this week.

The senior captain’s versatility stood out versus Lebanon, and his coach says his leadership benefits the entire team.

“He's a physical presence and a great leader, and he knows when to say the right things,” Pavone said. “It's amazing to see his growth and development as not only a player, but as a kid in our football program.”

From the beginning, the Cedars couldn’t stop Risser or Kaplan from making big plays. Kaplan said he and Risser talk about how their games fit together, and it makes them hard to stop.

“We're a pretty good duo out there, he's fast, elusive, shifty — and I'm downhill runner,” Kaplan said. “We showed up against this team, but there are some teams out there that are going to want to beat us even more now.”

Both rushers took advantage of each opportunity with the ball, and did so without taking away from the other. Pavone said the two compliment each other, but the dynamic is something the offense is still trying to perfect.

“They can do a lot of different things in our offense, but they're also just electric playmakers," Pavone said. “You want them to have the ball in their hands as much as they possibly can.”

Palmyra also decided to get quarterback Ryan Kowalski involved in the run game, as he took a few carries and led an option-centric offense. Kowalski also managed to find a score, as he took a play-action boot for a 15-yard touchdown run.

Pavone said the run wasn’t designed for the quarterback, and that Kowalski saw it with his experience in the offense.

Just a week into the year, the Cougars have shown that they have playmakers in all three aspects. With a long season ahead of them, it’s promising to see this type of connectivity all around.

“Our kids were focused on this end result, this is step one in that process,” Pavone said. “We still have a lot that we can do, and when we fix things, I think we can be a good football team."

Week 1 football scores

Northern Lebanon 10, Pine Grove 0

Biglerville 39, Annville-Cleona 36

Cedar Crest 45, Lower Dauphin 16

Saturday's game

West York 33, EL C O 6

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Week 1 football scores: Palmyra's running back duo runs all over Lebanon