Armstrong aimed to prevent Spring Lake Park’s typically potent running game from controlling the middle of the field in the teams’ season-opener on Thursday.

The Falcons succeeded, holding the Panthers to under 110 rushing yards on 38 attempts in a 21-0 home victory.

Armstrong wide receiver Thai Bowman rushed for two touchdowns. Nick Barrett caught a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jake Breitbach, who is just five-and-a-half months removed from sustaining a torn ACL.

Meanwhile, the Falcons’ defense forced seven punts, one fumble and two turnovers on downs against a Spring Lake Park team that averaged over 300 rushing yards per game last year.

“I was really proud of the way we came out physically,” sixth-year Armstrong coach Jack Negen said.

He knew his team’s defensive front would be strong, he said, because of its experience. But he was especially pleased with the performance of his younger defensive backfield.

Senior linebacker Dacion Francis, who had a sack and a forced fumble, said the defense focused on preventing Spring Lake Park from establishing the interior run, which he said is the Panthers’ strongest attack.

“When they’re [forced] to push the ball out is when they’re kind of at their weak point,” he said.

Offensively, Armstrong struggled much of the game, gaining 14 first downs and just over 280 yards. But the Falcons strung together three touchdown drives, including an 11-play, 77-yard drive in the second quarter that Bowman capped with a one-yard rush.

Breitbach finished 11-for-17 passing for 145 yards and the touchdown, a nine-yard slant to Barrett in the fourth quarter. The Falcons also rushed for over 135 yards, despite senior running back Sean O’Driscoll, who had 800 yards last year, sustaining a game-ending injury in the first quarter.

Senior running back Brian Orellana had 13 rushes for 64 yards for Spring Lake Park.

Thai Bowman rushed for two scores and Nick Barrett caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Jake Breitbach to lead host Armstrong to a 21-0 victory over Spring Lake Park.