By BILL ALBRIGHT
EasternPAFootball.com/WesternPAFootball.net Senior Writer
MILL HALL — Coming into the PHAC-1 football game between Selinsgrove (6-1) and Central Mountain (1-6), the game appeared to be mismatch of great proportions, at least on paper.
As the game unfolded, the mismatch on paper became a reality as the Seals scored early and often to manhandle the Wildcats by the final of 40-3 Friday night at Don Malinak Stadium.
“I just told the kids that I thought we were a little flat tonight,” said Seals head coach Derek Hicks. “But at the end of the day, a 40-3 win is still a win. Offensively tonight Tony Dressler and Jared Inch had big nights, Josh Nylund and Kody Showers each had a couple of big catches and although we gave up a few yards at times, when it was time for the defense to clamp down they did that.”
The game featured an old-fashioned aerial assault as senior quarterback Logan Leiby filled the air with passes, Leiby spreading the wealth around to four receivers with at least 82 yards. For the game, the four-year Seals starter at quarterback finished with 27 completions on 34 attempts for 412 yards and five touchdowns.
“I just have a lot of faith in my receivers,” said Leiby. “With guys like Jarrett Inch, Tony Dressler, Christian Kantz, Josh Nylund, Damian Ravy and Kody Showers it makes it a lot of easier for me because they are all good players. I just try to get the ball to them and watch them make plays down the field.”
Inch led the Seals receiving group with 10 catches for 117 yards and a pair of scores. Nylund was close behind Inch with 114 yards on a half dozen balls, while Showers chipped in with 95 yards on just four catches and Dressler completed the quartet of Selinsgrove receivers with 82 yards on six catches good for three touchdowns.
“I had a really big game against these guys last year so we figured if it worked last year maybe it will end up working against this year,” said Dressler about his ability to get open. Leiby is a heckuva quarterback and when he finds me and gets the ball to me, I try to make the most of the opportunities to get into the end zone.”
If there was a negative aspect of the game for the Seals it came in the second quarter when they only had three snaps from scrimmage while the Wildcats controlled the action for slightly less than 11 minutes while running 29 plays.
Although dominated in terms of time of possession in the second period, the positive for the Seals was that their defensive unit only allowed the Wildcats to score three points when quarterback-placekicker Austyn Carson split the uprights from 38 yards out for a field goal.
“We executed well on both sides of the ball in the first quarter, but then they made some adjustments. They slowed the tempo down and that allowed them to control the second quarter,” said Hicks. “They were using the whole 25-second clock and that took us out of our rhythm. It worked for that period, but we came out in the third period and picked the tempo back up and played well the rest of the way.”
After they escaped the first half with only three points allowed, the Seals regrouped at halftime and following the break, it was all Selinsgrove.
Although the Seals didn’t have to use their total ground game, Joe Kahn was able to stick his nose into the action to carry the ball six times for 29 yards while scoring his team’s second TD of the night.
Now 7-1 overall, the Seals have two games remaining, and neither one is going to be a walk in the park. If there is a positive looking ahead with games against Mount Carmel and Southern Columbia, the Seals will have the home field advantage.
“Mount Carmel comes to town next week and that is a big one,” said Hicks. “The good thing about that is that we have them on our home turf.”
Leiby agrees with his head coach.
“We have two big games coming up the next two weeks with Mount Carmel and Southern,” he said. “We came out of the game healthy and that is a big plus as we prepare for those two big games to finish the regular season.”
Selinsgrove 20 0 7 13 — 40
Central Mt. 0 3 0 0 — 3
First Quarter
S — Tony Dressler 4 pass from Logan Leiby. (kick failed). 8:28
S — Joe Kahn 2 run. (Tyler Close kick) 4:02
S — Dressler 17 pass from Leiby. (Close kick) 1:43
Second Quarter
CM — Austyn Carson 38 FG. 1:12
Third Quarter
S — Jason Inch 3 pass from Leiby. (Close kick) 5:46
Fourth Quarter
S — Dressler 16 pass from Leiby. (kick failed) 10:46
S — Inch 15 pass from Leiby. (Close kick) 6:02
Team Statistics SEL CM
First Downs 21 11
Rushes-Yards 15-67 37-54
Passing Yards 412 69
Passing 27-34-2 9-25-2
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-0
Penalties-Yards 10-80 7-35
Rushing
Sel: Logan Leiby 6-33, Joe Kahn 6-29, 1 TD; Josh Nylund 3-5.
CM: Tanner Weaver 16-42, Rocco Stark 9-13, Seth Andrus 1-3, Austyn Carson 11-minus 4.
Passing
Sel: Logan Leiby 27-34, 412 yards, 2 interceptions, 5 touchdowns
CM: Austyn Carson, 9-25, 77 yards, 2 interceptions.
Receiving
Sel: Jason Inch 10-117, 2 Tds; Josh Nylund 6-114, Kody Showers 4-95, Tony Dressler 6-82, 3 Tds; Damian Ravy 1-4.
CM: Evan Prough 2-21, Isaiah McCann 3-16, Trevor Hanna 2-16, Asher Corl 1-12, Zach Eck 1-4.
