Souderton High School’s football team advanced to 5-1 after defeating Quakertown 34-20 on Friday night in a rivalry game known as the “309 Bowl” – its namesake is a nod to the schools’ area code.
A win is always sweeter against a local foe – especially when it’s a revenge game. Quakertown defeated Souderton twice last season, but the Indians flipped the script when their quarterback Jared Zimmer threw for 174 yards and a score, plus 11 carries for 64 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown.
Head Coach Ed Gallagher is pleased about Souderton’s hot start to the 2022 campaign, but his team’s recent success hasn’t come without trials. Souderton’s current dominance is a product of Gallagher’s persistence to building a winning program – even during the team’s most unfavorable hours. All the while, he’s found purpose in leading his Souderton students, both in the classroom and on the gridiron.
“I realized this was what I was meant to be. It became a passion and something I just enjoyed doing. I still get up every day looking forward to coming into work and doing what I do,” said Gallagher, who was named the Philadelphia Eagles High School Coach of the Week, presented by Hyundai.
Gallagher was hired as the Indians’ coach 20 years ago. When he arrived, he inherited a blank slate; the team was on a 14-game losing streak before he took over in 2003.
“When I got the job, I was just hoping to win a game,” said Gallagher, reflecting on his first year as head coach. “It was definitely in disarray. I think there were some talented players here, but they just seemed to be lacking direction.”
In his inaugural season at the helm of the Indians, the team suffered a similar fate; they went 0-11. But Gallagher didn’t shy away from the challenge presented before him. Instead, he committed to growing the program – and it didn’t take him his entire 20-year tenure to turn it around. It only took one year of his leadership before the team broke their dragging losing streak and tallied a winning season – they went 9-3 in 2004. Then, they matched that record for three more consecutive years.
