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Moala’s Pick-6’s help Penn roll past Merrillville

Paul Moala turned Friday’s high school football game against Merrillville into Grand Theft Football.

Moala, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound junior, ripped off a pair of Merrillville passes and returned them for touchdowns to lead the Kingsmen to a 35-2 victory on Friday, Aug. 26.

Penn is 2-0 and hosts Birmingham Brother Rice on Friday, Sept. 2.

Moala’s first Pick-6 was a 48-yard interception return that gave Penn a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Moala delivered the dagger with a Pick-6 in the third quarter, a 53-yard interception return that put the Kingsmen in command, 28-0.

Here’s an interview with Paul Moala:

Penn’s Wild Bunch front line of Keegan Hurst, Nate Boone, James Morris and Connor Schneider sent Merrillville backwards with seven quarterback sacks.

Quarterback James Iapalucci was 8-of-13 passing for 108 yards and two TD strikes.

John Ohlson made a brilliant over-the-shoulder catch for a 16-yard TD.

Matt Kominkiewicz hauled in a 25-yard TD pass from Iapalucci.

Penn coach Cory Yeoman was pleased with his team’s improvement from last season’s opener.

Here’s an interview with coach Yeoman:

Penn                 7   14   7   7 — 35

 Merrillville     0   0   0   2 — 2

P — Paul Moala 48 interception return (Jared Hancock kick).

P — Matt Kominkiewicz 25 pass from James Iapalucci (Hancock kick).

P — John Ohlson 16 pass from Iapalucci (Hancock kick).

P — Moala 53 interception return (Hancock kick).

P — Rashid Maclin 4 run (Hancock kick).

M — Safety.

Penn      Merrillville

First downs        10               13

Yards rushing    135             113

Yards passing    108             95

Passing               8-13-0        12-24-2

Punting               6-32.8        9-26.8

Fumbles-lost     0-0              0-0

Penalties            0-0              1-10

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