BEAVER SPRINGS – A strong opening half from Greater Latrobe made a second half comeback nearly impossible for Midd-West Friday night as the visiting Wildcats earned a 35-7 victory.
Greater Latrobe scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters to build a 28-0 lead at halftime.
Midd-West won the coin toss and chose to receive to start the game. After a six-play drive stalled at the 50-yard line, the Mustangs punted a ball to the Wildcats 20-yard line. Wildcat playmaker Kameron Stevens took the ball from there and skirted down the left sideline for the game’s opening score.
The 80-yard punt return was Stevens’ first of the season, though he had previously returned four kickoffs for the Wildcats earlier this season.
The Wildcats scored later in the half on a drive where a 69-yard touchdown run was called back due to a holding penalty.
Penalties hurt the Wildcats on the night, as the team racked up 11 penalties for 100 yards.
Later in the Wildcats’ third drive of the game, quarterback Bobby Fetter kept a read option and scampered in from three yards out.
The Wildcats used running plays to the outside to beat the Mustangs all night. Taking advantage of their speed to get to and around the edge.
“It’s hard to prepare for a team like that because they have a lot of athletes. Their offense is to try to get things to the edge.” stated Midd-West head coach Brad Hatter. “You can’t coach speed, so the biggest thing for us was to try to make adjustments. We got some great play out of our linebackers tonight.”
Greater Latrobe went up 21-0 on the first play of the third quarter when running back AJ Rock rumbled in from three yards away. Latrobe ran the ball with eight different players in the game, and though nobody eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the Wildcats, the team racked up 398 rushing yards on 43 run plays in the game.
Greater Latrobe’s final scoring play in the opening half came when Midd-West was attempting to drive the field and get a score before the halftime break. With just 55 seconds left on the clock, Latrobe’s Tucker Knupp picked off a Midd-West pass and took it 35 yards back for the score, giving the Wildcats their second defensive/special teams score of the night.
“We came out on a long road trip today against an experienced football team and played well.” said Greater Latrobe coach Jason Marucco. “Obviously there were a few adjustments we need to make. We left a few opportunities on the table in the second half, but we’re learning.”
In the second half the Midd-West defense really came to life, not allowing a score until just over five minutes were remaining in the game. The defense was led by Trey Lauver, who seemed to be everywhere all night long on the defensive side of the ball.
“I can’t say enough about (Trey Lauver)” said coach Hatter. “The leadership that he provides for our defense and the work ethic he puts in. He left everything out there. We couldn’t ask for anything more out of our middle linebacker.”
Midd-West also was able to get on the scoreboard in the second half.
With 7:39 remaining in the game, Christian Regester dropped back in the pocket on 1st-and-10 from the Greater Latrobe 23-yard line. Regester fired a pass toward the sideline that slipped through Hunter Wolfley’s hands and careened perfectly into the hands of Trent Peachey who took it all the way to the endzone.
The score capped off an eight-play drive that started all the way back at the Midd-West five-yard line.
Midd-West looks to improve as the team closes the regular season at home against Tunkhannock this coming Friday.
“I told the guys that we can take what we did in the second half and use that to build on for this upcoming game against Tunkhannock.” said Hatter of his defense’s performance. “We’re going to have to have a good week of practice to get ready for them.”
Midd-West dropped to 3-6 overall with the loss, while Greater Latrobe improved to 4-5 on the season.
Greater Latrobe 35, Midd-West 7
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Greater Latrobe 14 14 0 7 — 35
Midd-West 0 0 0 7 — 7
First Quarter
GL—Kameron Stevens 80-yard punt return (John McHenry PAT), 8:54
GL—Bobby Fetter 3-yard run (McHenry PAT), 3:44
Second Quarter
GL—AJ Rock 3-yard run (McHenry PAT), 11:52.
GL—Tucker Knupp 35-yard interception return (McHenry PAT), 0:55.
Fourth Quarter
MW—Trent Peachey 23-yard reception from Christian Regester (Carter Sauer PAT), 7:39.
GL—Stevens 30-yard run (McHenry PAT), 5:23
TEAM STATISTICS GL MW
First downs 19 7
Total yards 423 198
Rushes-yards 43-398 23-41
Yards passing 125 157
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 7-17-2 8-29-2
Fumbles-lost 6-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 11-100 3-15
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Midd-West: Trey Lauver 7-20, Hunter Wolfley 9-17, Regester 3-5, Josh Rodriguez 3-4, TEAM 1-(-5). Greater Latrobe: Stevens 3-92 TD, Dakota Morrison 4-51, Rock 9-49 TD, Logan Gustafson 10-47, Fetter 9-33, Branden Crosby 7-21, Raymon Henderson 2-17, Wyatt Schmucker 2-2, TEAM 1-(-14).
PASSING—Midd-West: Regester 8-27 157 yds, TD, 2 INT; Oakley Bennett 0-2. Greater Latrobe: Crosby 4-9 78 yds; Fetter 3-7 47 yds, INT; Knupp 0-1, INT.
RECEIVING—Midd-West: Gabe Regester 4-104, Peachey 2-27 TD, Wolfley 1-18, Lauver 1-12. Greater Latrobe: Knupp 3-76, Stevens 3-48, Gustafson 1-1.
