I’ve been following and reporting on Harriton football for four years now, so I’ve seen our fair share of big wins. Ever since we joined the Central League there have been flashes of brilliance, moments where it appeared as if we could eclipse the .500 mark and become legitimate league contenders. The most recent of these was probably the squad’s opening day blowout of Lower Merion last year in which we got our first taste of Spencer Reid and Mike Allen– but still, that game doesn’t taste quite as good as Saturday’s victory over Upper Darby.

I feel no regrets in saying this now: Rams football has arrived. 2011 appears to be the year where the Rams make good on their potential, as they certainly have thus far in the season. Matt Barr’s pass-happy, spread offense is clicking on all cylinders, and quite honestly? For one of the first times in a while, it’s a pleasure to watch.

It wasn’t like we couldn’t have seen Saturday’s upset coming– the Rams had certainly looked strong in wins over Chichester and Radnor. But this win, albeit delayed and switched to Harriton’s home field, was of a different caliber. Not only did the Rams defeat the Royals, they dominated the first half en route to a 34-6 lead. Quarterback Pat Moriarty ran the offense to perfection, accounting for all five touchdowns and finishing with 375 passing yards on the night. Halfback Andre Pendleton also had a breakout game, contributing two touchdowns and over a buck fifty in receiving yards. True, Upper Darby woke up in the second half, but a gritty Rams defense clamped down when it mattered the most to preserve the win.

The team relies heavily on its offense, which lives and dies on Moriarty’s arm. Thankfully, the quarterback has been stellar this year. Faced with questions on how he would react to losing his two biggest offensive weapons, Pat has stepped up and become a leader in the Rams offense. His five touchdown performance was the gem of a fantastic season thus far, with credit due to receivers Juwan Valentine, who has blossomed into a star, and the always dependable Ryan Kelly. The defense has been leaky at points, namely the second half of Saturday’s game, but performed admirably when put to the test in a one-possession game for this first time this season.

Was it perfect? No, but it didn’t need to be– and a result, the Rams look stronger than ever. The win puts them at 3-1 on the year (2-1 in league play), which matches this win total for the entirety of 2010. The schedule will only get tougher from here on out, but the squad looks more than prepared to handle it.