BOYERTOWN — Owen J. Roberts jumped out to a two-touchdown lead in the opening three minutes on Friday night in Boyertown and rode solid play in all aspects of the game the rest of the way for a 28-13 win at Memorial Stadium.

The result tied the two teams for second place in the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division at 2-1, a game behind 3-0 Spring-Ford.

Mekhi Graham ran for 192 yards, Christopher Flynn passed for 115 and Jonathan Miller added a touchdown on a punt return, a blocked extra point and an interception for the Wildcats (6-1 overall). Michael Boorse ran for 83 yards and Tilman Henley for 70 for the Bears (4-3 overall).

“We ran the ball pretty well and passed the ball pretty well,” said OJR head coach Rich Kolka. “Our special teams and defense played well. I think we had a decent game.”

OJR led 21-0 in the second quarter before the Bears closed to within eight points midway through the third.

“We made two big mistakes in the first quarter,” said Boyertown head coach Jami Sands. “On the punt return, we only had 10 men on the field. We played like it was 0-0, just playing football and seeing where we were as the game inched along. We got back in the game, but we did small and big things that hurt us.”

Owen J. Roberts scored on the game’s second play from scrimmage when Graham took a hand off and burst through a big hole in the line 60 yards into the end zone.

“Our offensive line had to fire to block them,” said the junior running back and corner back, who carried the ball 27 times, caught three passes and had an interception. “It was a matter of me reading the hole and I did that. We have a huge offensive line and we’ve worked to get chemistry. I’m really proud of my guys.”

The Wildcat defense quickly forced a punt and Miller returned it 51 yards for the TD and a 14-0 advantage with 9:02 remaining in the second quarter. Then Graham picked off a pass and OJR drove 70 yards on 10 plays with a 2-yard run by Flynn making it 21-0 with 2:53 to go in the half.

Boyertown got good field position when Boorse returned the ensuing kickoff 32 yards to the Bear 48 and Henley connected with Connor Foskey on a 48-yard TD play to make it 21-7 with 1:03 left in the half.

The Bears closed to within 21-13 late in the third with a 10-play, 53 yard drive that lasted over six minutes, with Henley eventually sneaking the ball in from a yard out. But the Wildcats countered with a 69-yard TD drive that included carries of 33 and 15 yards by Graham and a 13-yard touchdown pass from Flynn (11-for-16 passing) to Adam Stahl. A late interception by Miller clinched the win.

OJR held the Bears to 160 rushing and 216 total yards.