NORTHAMPTON — Some coaches script the first drive of plays for their team, but throwing in three false start penalties among the first six plays of the game is never included.

Palmerton’s offense did just that Friday night at Alumni Field in Catasauqua, but in the end played well enough to get a 24-13 win over the Rough Riders.

The opening drive could have easily died a quick death, but quarterback T.K. Gursky hit receiver Gaven Meixsell for 17 yards on a second-and-11 and came back with passes to Cale Young on back-to-back plays for a total of 46 yards. The drive didn’t get into the end zone, but the Bombers got a 28-yard field goal from Devlin Moyzan to at least garner three points on the drive.

“First of all, let’s credit Catasauqua. They made things difficult there, but we didn’t convert. We weren’t efficient, we were sloppy and had a lot of penalties and other miscues that we didn’t have earlier on this season,” said Blue Bomber head coach Chris Walkowiak of his team’s early play.

Unfortunately, the defense didn’t start very well either.

The defense had an encroachment and a face mask penalty in the first five plays of Catty’s opening drive that resulted in a 9-yard touchdown pass from Aiden Reilly to receiver Tuari Wright to put the Rough Riders up 7-3 after the extra point by Reilly cleared the uprights.

Gursky wound up putting together some good numbers on the night as he threw for 188 yards and had two passing touchdowns, including a 15-yarder to Carson Eckhart with just under 2:00 left in the game to put the game away for the Blue Bombers.

Of the 15 catches by Palmerton receivers, Young pulled in five of them for 69 yards and he rushed for another 39 yards on the night.

The defense came up with big plays when they needed them with Meixsell pulling in two interceptions to stop Catasauqua drives.

“On the first interception, Ben (Negley) gave me a great call and told me to come in on a slant, and I busted up on it,” said Meixsell of his first interception.

“The second one I saw the quarterback come down and look right, and I made a play on the ball.”

The defense held Catasauqua to just eight first downs in the game and 154 yards of total offense.

For their part, Palmerton moved the chains 20 times and had 315 yards of total offense.

Many of the first downs came on third down conversions while the Roughies didn’t convert their first third down until their fourth possession of the fourth quarter.

Gursky credited the offensive line with giving him time to throw the ball, opening holes for the running game, and making the option play run smoothly.

“They start the drive and they end the drive. They are the ones that protect me all night and all season,” said Gursky.

THE D IN THE LAST THREE… Palmerton’s defense allowed 33 points against Marian in the season opener that they won 34-33. Since then, the defense has allowed just 41 points in three games.

Palmerton 24, Catty 13

Palmerton

Catasauqua

P - Devlin Moyzan 28 FG

C - Wright 9 pass from Reilly (Reilly kick)

P - Negley 22 pass from Gursky (Moyzan kick)

P - Gursky 8 run (Young pass from Gursky)

P - Car. 15 pass from Gursky (Moyzan kick)

C - Pacheco 5 pass from Reilly (run failed)