by Matt Beltz
LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP – All season long, South Williamsport had rode the back of Dominick Bragalone, who is arguably the top running back in the state. No District 4 team has been able to slow him down, much less stop him, as he has gone for over 3,000 yards rushing this season.
On Friday, the first non-District 4 team had a crack at slowing him down as Old Forge, last year’s state runner-up Class A, made the trek to Lycoming County to take on the Mounties. The Devils suffered the same fate as the 12 teams from District 4 before it as Bragalone was once again the story, running for 394 yards and four touchdowns as South Williamsport won its 12th straight game and ended Old Forge’s undefeated season with a dominant 40-0 win in the first round of the state playoffs.
“We’ve been really working toward this and sometimes playing at a small school you don’t always get the recognition but Dominick is the real deal,” said South Williamsport coach Chris Eiswerth. “He’s just a tremendous player and a tremendous young man and we’re blessed to have him and you can’t say enough about the offensive line.”
The game was a drastic difference from what Old Forge was used to for most of the season. The Devils had entered Friday’s game having recorded seven shutouts in its 12 games this season, including in both of its wins the last two weeks in the District 2 Class A playoffs. For the year, Old Forge had given up just 67 points entering the game, and no more than 14 in any game.
“It’s sudden, your season is over and that’s it, you move on and start looking at next year,” said Old Forge coach Mike Schuback. “It disappointing for our seniors because they worked so hard to get to this point because everybody counted them out but I’m very proud of them and I’m proud of our team and what they accomplished. They laid a foundation for our younger kids. We want to play into Week 13 and late into November and our kids did they best they could.”
Bragalone’s 394 yards in a new PIAA Class A first round record, shattering the old mark of 334 that was set last year by Schuylkill Haven’s Will Casella against Bristol. It also marks the second-most in a PIAA playoff game of any round. Only Henry Hynoski of Southern Columbia had more with a 409-yard game in 2004. Bragalone had 161 yards after the first quarter and 266 by halftime.
South Williamsport had such success on the ground that it only needed to attempt one pass in the game, and it didn’t come until the fourth quarter when the game was already in the mercy rule. Bragalone ran the ball on 22 of South’s 26 plays that it ran in the first half. For the game Bragalone ran it on 32 of South’s 48 offensive plays, seven of which went for 20 yards or more. For good measures, he also added an interception on defense – one of three passes that the Mountie defense picked off en route to pitching a shutout.
“We’ve really worked hard (on defense) because we started the season off (giving up 38 points to) Montoursville and the defense didn’t play as well as we wanted them to so as the season has gone on we tried to make some changes and the guys have stepped up and worked hard,” said Eiswerth. “To shut out Old Forge was just a tremendous showing. They’re well coached and have a tremendous program so anytime you can do that, it says a lot for those kids.”
Bragalone was unstoppable for really the entire game, but especially early on. He accumulated 54 rushing yards on the first three plays from scrimmage but fumbled following a 27-yard play on the third play from scrimmage, giving Old Forge the ball at its own seven. The Devils went three and out and managed only 31 yards on their punt, giving South outstanding field position at the Old Forge 35. From there, Bragalone needed only two plays to score on a 31-yard run.
On the ensuing drive, Old Forge managed to drive down to the South 33 but on the eighth play of the drive, Joey Gutowski’s pass was picked off by John Peters. The Mounties took over at the South 29 and four plays later, Bragalone broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown run to put South up by two scores.
Old Forge got a nice 37-yard kickoff return from Jaret Horn to start its next drive at midfield and the Devils drove all the way to the South 19 but the drive stalled when they were stopped on fourth down at the South 20.
The Mounties then responded with a long drive that took up a large chunk of the second quarter as they went on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that featured 10 rushes by Bragalone, who despite fumbling for the second time did not lose it this time, and the drive was capped by quarterback Matthew Boone’s first rush of the night, a six-yard keeper after a fake handoff to Bragalone to put the Mounties up 20-0.
South then forced Old Forge to punt after another three and out, which came after a 30-yard kickoff return by the Devils was wiped out by a block in the back penalty. South took possession at its own 44 with 2:17 remaining and need just four plays – four rushes by Bragalone – along with a personal foul penalty to take a 26-0 lead on Bragalone’s third touchdown of the night, this one a nine-yard scamper.
“He is a fantastic runner, by far the best back tandem I’ve seen in a couple years that we’ve played against. They made big plays when they had to and we didn’t make enough stops on big plays. I wish them the best of luck,” said Schuback.
The Devils then managed to drive all the way to the South 22 just before halftime but a South stopped Old Forge with a sack and a rush for no gain on the last two plays of the half.
Old Forge received to start the second half and once again put together a decent drive, making it down to the South 37 but once again, the drive ended with an interception, this one coming at the South 31. From there, Bragalone was stopped on South’s first play for a one-yard loss but he rebounded with a 70-yard run for touchdown, shedding would-be tacklers along the way for his fourth score of the night.
Bragalone would make his interception in the end zone on Old Forge’s next drive after the Devils had made it all the way to the South 14-yard line and then the Mounties put together another long drive, this one 80 yards in nine plays to cap the scoring early in the fourth quarter when Boone ran it in on another keep from 12 yards out to invoke the mercy rule.
South Williamsport 40, Old Forge 0
Old Forge (12-1) 0 0 0 0 – 0
South Williamsport (12-1) 14 12 7 7 – 40
First quarter
8:37 – (S) Dominick Bragalone 31-yard run (Wein kick), 2-35, :39
2:18 – (S) Dominick Bragalone 58-yard run (Wein kick), 4-71, 1:48
Second quarter
3:24 – (S) Matthew Boone 6-yard run (kick blocked), 13-80, 6:42
1:15 – (S) Dominick Bragalone 9-yard run (rush failed), 4-56, 1:02
Third quarter
6:50 – (S) Dominick Bragalone 70-yard run (Wein kick), 2-69, :48
Fourth quarter
11:15 – (S) Matthew Boone 12-yard run (Wein kick), 9-80, 3:52
Statistics
O S
First downs 10 20
Rushes-net yards 32-118 48-480
Passing yardage 80 0
Passing 6-14-0-3 0-1-0-0
Fumbles-lost 3-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 7-53 3-25
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Old Forge: Cooper Califano (21-103), Joey Gutowski (5-10), Bobby Rinaldi (5-3), Jaret Horn (1-2); South Williamsport: Dominick Bragalone (32-394-4), John Peters (8-22), Matthew Boone (4-52-2), Gideon Green (2-15), Ashton Martin (1-(-2)), TEAM (1-(-1))
PASSING — Old Forge: Joey Gutowski (4-10-59-0-1), Paul Cariati (2-4-21-0-2); South Williamsport: Matthew Boone (0-1-0-0-0)
RECEIVING — Old Forge: Jaret Horn (5-66), Joey Gutowski (1-14); South Williamsport: None
11 Responses
Glad to see some stats. on the kid(yes, he is still a kid). Only got to see him in action in short clips on sport reports. Too bad none of his stats. are on maxprep. Way ahead of anyone listed. I’m even more impressed now that I’ve seen all the yards gained with the total carries he had.
Brian is a SCA fanatic who can’t stand the thought of another kid in District 4 getting any attention at the expense of SCA. He’s bashed Bragalone numerous times over the past two seasons, spewing lies about “running up stats”.
Facts are that Bragalone has not played in the 2nd half of 5 games this year. Facts are that he has carried the ball in the 4th Q in only 5 games all year. Facts are he has 602 career carries in 37 games for an average of 16 carries per game. Facts are that Henry Hynoski was one of the best running backs in PIAA history, and nothing Bragalone accomplishes will change that. But don’t let the facts Brian get in the way of your desire to tear-down a very talented high school RB from central PA.
Glenn, I am an SCA fan and graduate from a time when we won very few games (yes I am old). Bottom line, those games are a distant memory and I rarely think of them, even during the current season. My point….you are right….why do some have to put down the accomplishments of a KID, some need to take a step back and realize these games, in the long run, don’t mean much. Kids are hard enough on each other, we as adults need to set a better example. It’s a game folks, just a game. The pressure the communities put on these kids is uncalled for….and most of the pressure comes from those who don’t have kids playing. Thanks for understanding that not all fans are cut from the same cloth and not allowing a few to taint your overall image. We should all do the same and not make sweeping generalities of any program, its players or fans. Good luck the rest of the season.
Hey Brian, how many of Souths games have you been to in the last two years? I’ve seen them all and until this week Bragalone was averageing 17 carries a game for the season. For his carreer he is averaging less than 20 carries a game. Why some SCA fans think they have to denigrate the accomphishments of a 17-18 year old kid is beyond me. I watched Hynoski play over 20 games & loved watching him run. He would have had the same carreer at Mount Carmel if his father had chosen to settle in his alma maters district. Why were the starters in in the 4th? Why were Old Forge’s? As for the kicking game, they tried one kick against Montoursville & failed on five two pointers.
I wanted to edit and couldn’t, so double post (sorry). I did want to mention that Brian was right about two things: 1) Bragalone and the other starters were probably in THIS game a bit too long. First, to protect against injury and second to give the younger kids the experience of a playoff game. It nearly cost them an injury to Boone late. I’m not at all attached to the team other than as a spectator but I can only imagine it was to push Dom with stats and also–possibly, just a fan guessing–because there was some bad blood on the field and there may have been the urge to “put it to” Old Forge. 2) SCA has a terrific program. Whatever they’re doing they should keep doing.
Also to Mr. Dietrick: I didn’t mean to take anything away from the Warriors’ win by citing the kicking game. It’s not as if the Warriors were just standing there while South’s kicking game imploded. They blocked, I think, three kicks, so good on them for the win. Win or lose, I’m glad for the South-Montoursville games to be back. Great atmosphere and I thoroughly enjoy the Montoursville Band. Always a good show.
The thing is Old Forge put all their focus on Bragalone and look what still happens. Even if for whatever reason he is slowed down they can still pass the ball very well.
The truth is that Bragalone does NOT play entire games. Most games he has been out at half-time or shortly after. Had he actually played whole games he would have obliterated every PIAA rushing record (season and career) by now–despite not playing freshman year. The younger guys have played the second half most of the season. By the way, Montoursville played a great game against South and deserved the win, but they ultimately won because South was 0-7 on extra points (and has since changed kickers after going something like 0-15 to start the season).
Bragalone averages right around 20 carries a game and did not play in the 4th quarter in most games this season. He is nowhere near 32 carries a game. Get your facts straight.
Montoursville slowed Dom Bragalone down…Held him to his lowest rushing total, and won the game 38-36.Souths only loss See it can be done! WARRIORS!
when you’re getting 32 plus carries a game and get to play entire games when you should be on the sideline getting back ups time you have these type of numbers. Imagine if Hynoski got 32 carries a game but that is why SCA has a successful program because they let the younger guys get time when the game is in mercy rule. This is why South won’t win a state title because the team coming from the west will only need to contain bragalone.
One thing no one is mentioning is the fact that Bragalone, with help from Peters & that offensive line, is the ONLY RUNNING BACK IN PIAA HISTORY TO HAVE TWO 3,000 YARD SEASONS! Another effort like this next week he will pass Zach Barket [I appologize for possible misspelling] for most yards in a season.