MOUNT CARMEL – There’s no such thing as a perfect game in football like there is in baseball. However, if there were, what Mount Carmel did to South Williamsport on Friday would almost certainly qualify.
Mount Carmel racked up almost 600 yards of total offense and scored touchdowns on all nine of its possessions – and by eight different players – while holding South Williamsport scoreless and barely over 100 yards as the Red Tornadoes dominated South Williamsport in a 59-0 win and looked the best they have all year in winning their third straight game.
“I was really happy with the way our guys played. I think we put it all together and I was pleased with how physical we were all night,” said Mount Carmel coach John Darrah. “We have some guys developing, some guys getting healthy and more guys providing us depth so I would definitely say we’re starting to hit our stride.”
Mount Carmel amassed 593 yards compared to just 119 for South as the Mounties only came even remotely close to the end zone on one of their 10 possessions. Mount Carmel averaged more than a first down on every snap, picking up an average of 11.4 yards per play and compiled an eye-popping 31 first downs. By contrast, South averaged only 2.8 yards per play as the Mounties found it tough to move the ball against Mount Carmel, especially on the outside, and had only six first downs, including just one in the second half largely against Red Tornado second-teamers.
That number for South would have been even less if not for 42-yard run by Lane Lusk midway through the second quarter. Without that play, South only averaged only 1.8 yards a play. That play came with Mount Carmel already up 28-0 and it gave South a first down at the Mount Carmel 22. However, it would stall as a five-yard penalty moved them back and they turned it over on downs at the Red Tornado 18.
South’s final two plays of that drive, run from the 18, were the only two plays in the red zone all night as the Mounties seldom crossed midfield. Only 11 of South’s 43 plays were run on Mount Carmel’s side of the field, seven of which were on South’s first drive of the night after receiving the opening kickoff. They completed passes on four of their first six plays – a change up from South’s usual strong rushing attack. But that drive would stall at the Mount Carmel 32 and South would only complete two more passes the remainder of the game.
“They have great size, they’re strong and physical and what they run is very challenging (to defend),” said South Williamsport coach Chris Eiswerth. “Hats off to Mount Carmel. They did a tremendous job and it’s a great venue to play in.”
The Red Tornadoes, meanwhile, scored a touchdown each time they had the ball. Logan Wills got the scoring started by hauling in a 20-yard pass from Tom Reisinger, on Mount Carmel’s first possession, which followed five straight rushing plays to start the drive. Reisinger threw for 117 yards on just four completions.
Shane Weidner found the end zone from 16 yards out and then from five yards on the Red Tornadoes’ next two drives as he finished with 76 yards on just seven carries. Damon Dowkus punched it in from three yards out to put Mount Carmel up 28-0 midway through the second. A 51-yard catch-and-run down the left sideline by Jack Chapman highlighted that drive.
A 34-yard touchdown run by Reisinger just enforce halftime gave the Red Tornadoes a 34-0 lead at the half, and then Mount Carmel’s second team produced four more touchdowns in the second half. An astounding 13 different players recorded a rushing carry for Mount Carmel, yet none had more than seven carries.
“It’s a credit to our kids. Our line was doing a great job, our backs were running hard and that’s what happens when you execute,” said Darrah. “I thought we played disciplined as well and I was extremely happy with how physical we were on defense and we had a lot of tackles at the line of scrimmage, which is great to see.
“I also thought our young guys did a great job also scoring some points and stopping their offense when they went in.”
For South, meanwhile, the Mounties drop to 4-4 with the loss and have now lost four straight after winning their first four games. The Mounties had to endure, for the second straight year, what could be one of the toughest three-game stretches of any team in the state with Southern Columbia, Central Columbia and Mount Carmel in succession. Now that they are through that gauntlet, they are focused on positioning themselves for the District 4, Class A playoffs, where they have as good a shot as any team, especially with the competition they have gone up against in the second half of the season.
“We played all our kids, we got through the game, and we’re happy to move on and see what we can do next week,” said Eiswerth. “The whole thing with us is staying healthy and hopefully winning enough games to get to the playoffs and then try to do something there. That’s where we’re at right now.”
Mount Carmel 59, South Williamsport 0
South Williamsport (4-4) 0 0 0 0 – 0
Mount Carmel (6-2) 14 20 12 13 – 59
First quarter
6:11 – (MC) Logan Wills 20-yard pass from Tom Reisinger (Julien Stellar kick), 6-77, 1:44
2:29 – (MC) Shane Weidner 16-yard run (Stellar kick), 6-53, 1:48
Second quarter
9:25 – (MC) Shane Weidner 5-yard run (Stellar kick), 9-48, 3:17
6:48 – (MC) Damon Dowkus 3-yard run (Stellar kick), 5-67, :55
3:15 – (MC) Tom Reisinger 34-yard run (kick failed), 3-82, :50
Third quarter
11:11 – (MC) Joey Bendas 9-yard run (kick blocked), 2-48, :49
2:06 – (MC) Damon Backes 35-yard run (kick failed), 8-62, 5:34
Fourth quarter
9:47 – (MC) Pedro Feliciano 38-yard run (Nick Nestico kick), 4-61, 1:53
1:54 – (MC) Jacob Zarski 6-yard run (kick failed), 9-75, 4:59
Statistics
SW MC
First downs 6 31
Rushes-net yards 29-74 44-476
Passing yardage 45 117
Passing 6-14-0-1 4-8-1-0
Fumbles-lost 2-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 3-15 3-20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: South Williamsport: Chase Beck (8-30), Lane Lusk (5-57), Luke Winner (5-11), Kaden Fulmer (5-(-10)), Zack Miller (4-3), Landon Lorson (2-(-17)); Mount Carmel: Shane Weidner (7-76-2), Jacob Zarski (7-41-1), Noah Berkoski (5-61), Pedro Feliciano (4-57-1), Tom Reisinger (4-50-1), Damon Backes (4-45-1), Damon Dowkus (4-27-1), Joey Bendas (3-59-1), Garrett Varano (2-32), Cameron Mannion (1-14), Liam Bradley (1-8), Thomas Davitt (1-6), Ethan Fanella (1-0)
PASSING: South Williamsport: Landon Lorson (6-14-45-0-1); Mount Carmel: Tom Reisinger (4-8-117-1-0)
RECEIVING: South Williamsport: Austin Nash (5-43), Caleb Nelson (1-2); Mount Carmel: Jack Chapman (2-60), Logan Wills (2-57-1)
