SALISBURY TOWNSHIP - Palmerton likes to spread the wealth.

And the Blue Bombers have the playmakers to cash in when it counts.

Unbeaten Palmerton showcased its powerful attack on Friday night en route to a 60-20 win over Salisbury.

The Bombers scored through the air and on the ground, as quarterback Matt Machalik threw three touchdowns and ran for a pair.

A pair of players who entered the game with one touchdown found the end zone multiple times as Emilio Gonzalez ran for three scores and caught one, while Jameson Trainer hauled in two touchdown passes.

Sophomore Caleb Sagastume also scored his first touchdown of the season in the win.

It was another example of why these Blue Bombers are now 7-0.

“We always say, spread the ball around to our athletes,” said Palmerton head coach Chris Walkowiak. “We showed tonight that we had some more athletes in the stable, which is a good thing. And the best thing I like about the team is they are selfless. They’re all happy for each other at that point in time. That’s one of the strong suits of this team this year is our chemistry.”

The Blue Bombers ran for 308 yards and finished with 406 yards of total offense.

Gonzalez (seven carries, 81 yards) scored on runs of eight and one yard in the second quarter and added a 22 yard score in the third. He caught three passes for 43 yards and a nine-yard TD to open the scoring for Palmerton in the first quarter, a drive aided by a nick kick return from Brayden Hosier.

“It feels really good,” said Gonzalez. “Any way I can contribute I’m glad, and any way my teammates can contribute I’m also glad. It’s a team sport and whatever they do helps us win.”

Trainer’s first TD grab of eight yards put the Bombers ahead at 18-12 with 8:05 left in the second quarter. It also kick-started a run of 48 unanswered points that stretched into the fourth quarter and put Palmerton in control.

“They definitely finished strong,” said Walkowiak. “That’s one thing to definitely build on and a positive to build on. Being in an adverse situation and responding, and not panicking. So that was a good job by our senior leaders and everybody coming together and saying, we need to settle down and do this.”

The Falcons (0-7) struck first, with Jason St. Leger going in from four yards out to make it 6-0 in the first quarter.

After Gonzalez got the Bombers on the board, Machalik (eight carries, 135 yards) broke free for a 45-yard touchdown to make it 12-6 early in the second quarter.

But Salisbury hit on a big pass play the next drive, as Andrew Lucas connected with Jamanni Cruz for a 78-yard score to tie it at 12-12.

The Falcons recovered the ensuing onside kick, but were stopped on fourth down as Machalik almost came up with a pick.

The senior did intercept a pass on Salisbury’s next possession, setting up Trainer’s second TD catch of the game, this time from four yards out to make it 26-12.

Another interception on the Falcons’ next drive, this time by Ty Sander, led to an eight-yard TD by Gonzalez to push the lead to 34-12.

“Defensively, we got turnovers, I thought that was really big, too,” said Walkowiak. “To get the momentum shift. I thought when they scored, then they recovered the onside kick, but we got the stop and that turned momentum. Because they could have easily put another one in. So that was a huge defensive stop.”

Gonzalez finished the 34-point second quarter with a one-yard TD to make it 40-12 at halftime.

Machalik, who was 10-of-13 passing for 98 yards, added a 33-yard touchdown run in the second half, and Sagastume scored from 35 yards out in the fourth quarter, a drive that was set up after a fumble recovery by Cooper Henry.

BIG NIGHTS

... Walkowiak had high praise for both Trainer and Gonzalez, who was presented with the character award after the game. “He worked his butt off over career to become a captain this year,” Walkowiak said of Gonzalez. “Became a quiet leader. He leads by example and did a phenomenal job tonight. Added a new wrinkle to our offense; he’s a big kid, big back and runs hard. Last year at this point he was a lineman for us because he’s that unselfish. We needed linemen and he’s one of our bigger bodies (6-1, 205) and without flinching, he did it. And Jameson did a nice job in the passing game. Matt was able to find him, and that’s great for him to step up. Only a junior, and last year played more defensively than offensively. But he’s learning his role and getting better and better each week.”

SALISBURY STATS

... Jamanni Cruz had four catches for 174 yards, while George Spann added a 14-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

... Palmerton hosts 6-1 North Schuylkill next Friday.