Good things come to those who wait – a popular idiom used by many throughout the years, used to inspire patience.

The Palmerton football team might disagree with that common motto, and the Bombers might have come up with a saying of their own after a strong performance on Friday night, but adding their own little twist – with it being, good things come to those who go out there and make things happen.

Palmerton was anything but patient against Panther Valley, making big play after big play in the first half to secure a 41-0 victory over the Panthers.

The Bombers (2-1) didn’t waste any time putting points on the board against the Panthers. It took them just three plays after starting on their own 38-yard line to take a 7-0 lead, with Matt Machalik taking it up the middle for 34 yards at the 11:35 mark in the first.

After a quick three-and-out by the Panthers, Palmerton hit back again and quickly, this time in just two plays, with Lucas Heydt rushing into the end zone from 37 yards out, followed up by a defensive score on a backwards pass from Panther Valley that resulted in a scoop and score by Dalton Drake to give Palmerton a 20-0 lead just four minutes into the game.

“That was one of our goals coming into tonight, to start fast and we also wanted to establish the run early as well. We came out and executed and played well up front and we were able to accomplish that,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “The fast start was definitely key. That’s what we were hoping to do, and then defensively we were able to make plays and get off the field on third and fourth down, which was also key for us.”

After forcing the Panthers to punt yet again in the first, the Palmerton offense yet again took advantage on a pretty play action pass from Machalik to James DeNicola for a 52-yard strike.

Off the inside zone run/pass option look, Machalik pulled the trigger and found DeNicola streaking down the seam for the six, which put the Bombers up 27-0 after the first quarter.

Panther Valley finally got some offense going on its ensuing possession, putting together its most spirited drive of the game. A 43-yard Michael Pascoe quarterback run around the left side took the ball inside the 10-yard line and a few plays later, the Panthers would get down to the one, setting up a fourth and goal.

However, a false start penalty would take PV back to the six and it couldn’t convert.

“Mike Pascoe is a good runner, he’s a tough runner and a big kid, who is not easy to bring down,” said Walkowiak. “We definitely were focused on winning our battles up front to try and create as much pressure in their backfield, so they couldn’t even get started back there. I think we did a great job of doing that throughout the game and our secondary and linebackers did their part as well keeping everything in front of them.”

Palmerton would then add two more scores in the second quarter to put the game away.

A Machalik two-yard run with 8:52 left in the half and a 27-yard scoot around the left edge from Stephen Jones with under five minutes remaining would cap the scoring.

PLAYING DISCIPLINED

… The Bombers made few mistakes on the night. They didn’t commit a single penalty and took care of the football as they committed zero turnovers.

SUPER SOPHOMORE

… In limited playing time due to the Palmerton lead, Machalik still came through with a host of big plays. Every play he was involved in, whether throwing or passing, went for an average of 22.8 yards per play.

RUNNING HARD

… Albeit a one-sided affair, Pascoe still ran hard on the night and put together a solid outing, rushing for 126 yards on 25 carries.