A few chuckles can apparently be heard in the Hopewell huddle during the course of a game. They come out when quarterback Mark Javens calls a pass play.

"When we call a pass, it's kind of like a shock," Javens said. "Everyone kind of gets a smile on their face."

That's because Hopewell rarely passes. But there is nothing funny about this team's running game. It is seriously good, which Ambridge found out last night.

Hopewell came into the WPIAL Class AAA Parkway Conference opener averaging 319 yards a game on the ground. The Vikings were better than average and ran through Ambridge on the way to a 32-7 victory in front of a large Ambridge crowd. The Bridgers were off to a 2-0 start for the first time in 18 years.

Hopewell (3-0), the Post-Gazette's No. 2 WPIAL Class AAA team, finished with 355 yards rushing and had two players run for more than 100 yards. Halfback Jared Rains, a University of Cincinnati recruit, rushed for 140 yards on 22 carries and Javens 126 on seven attempts. Javens ran for two touchdowns and threw for another. Running back David Posluszny, a Notre Dame recruit, added 57 yards on nine attempts and scored one score.

Hopewell almost doubled Ambridge in time of possession, 30:30 to 17:30. This running attack is bringing back memories of another highly successful Hopewell team.

"If you go back to our 2002 team, this is kind of similar situation," said Hopewell coach Dave Vestal.

That team had a lethal running attack, led by Posluszny's brother, Paul, who will play linebacker for the Buffalo Bills against the Steelers tomorrow.

"We thought they would be better than they were," Javens said of Ambridge. "But we just came out, showed them who we are and ran the football at them."

Although Hopewell rarely passes, Javens proved he can do it efficiently, completing 4 of 6 for 46 yards.

"We passed a few times in the first half and that opened things up, and then we came back to the run. I thought we played a smart game," Javens said.

But Hopewell's offensive line deserves credit. Ryan Turnley, a Pitt recruit, Chad Sweitzer, Adam Fueller, George Papas and Adam Kotun pushed around Ambridge most of the night.

"We haven't stopped anyone on defense in three weeks," Ambridge coach Don Yannessa said. "Our offense kept us in the first two games, but our offense stuttered and stammered tonight. It was horrendous."

Ambridge, which came in averaging 40 points a game, had only 25 yards rushing. David Duke, Ambridge's Duke of hurl, came in with 349 yards passing and four touchdown passes. But he was only 8 of 23 for 91 yards.

"Our game plan was to blitz him," said Posluszny, a standout linebacker who had one sack. "We watched their Aliquippa game and they just sat back against him. We wanted to come after him."

Hopewell scored on three of its four first-half possessions. A fumble by Rains kept the Vikings from going 4 for 4.

Javens scored on runs of 1 and 39 yards in the first half and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jake Bauder. Ambridge had a screen pass go for a long touchdown that was called back because of a penalty, and had another touchdown pass dropped by a receiver.

Leading 20-0 at the half, Hopewell scored on its first possession of the second half, driving 79 yards in 12 plays for a score. Posluszny capped it with a 2-yard run. Pat Matty added a 2-yard scoring run in the fourth.

Ambridge scored with 1:09 left in the game on Duke's 11-yard pass to Bob Gaiton.

"This had to be an offensive shootout for us to be in the game," Yannessa said. "Hopewell pulled its trigger, but we were shooting blanks."