South Williamsport: Week four of the 2012 season brought football fans another battle of undefeated teams. The Mounties of South Williamsport welcomed to Tigers of Southern Columbia to Rodney K. Morgans Stadium for the first time since 2004. The last time the Mounties were able to upend the Tigers was a 17-14 victory in the 1993 season en route to a Class A State Championship appearance. To earn their 3-0 mark thus far the Mounties took down Bloomsburg in their opener, nipped Canton in over-time, and trounced Vo-tech last week. On the other hand, Southern entered the contest riding high after dismantling Mount Carmel last week and averaging 55 points per game.
The Mounties received the ball to open the game and had some success pounding it forward for 28 yards on six plays, but were forced to punt near midfield. The Tigers’ initial possession started at their own 22 yard-line, and they took control in a very business-like manner. It took Southern nine plays, including passes of ten yards from Taylor Young to Joe Kleman and 13 yards to Matt Lupold capped by a 28 yard reverse run by Nate Hunter for the score.
Southern’s defense then tightened things up, forcing a punt after only four plays and a sack for a loss of seven by Cody Pavlick. As for the offense, field position did not seem to matter much. Starting from their own 17 they marched down-field on eleven plays including a 20 yard reverse by Lupold, an 18 yard end-around by Hunter and the six yard score by Lupold. Dylan Swank went a perfect six for six on PAT’s on the night and increased the lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Next up were some defensive fireworks for the Tigers. On the fifth play of the Mounties ensuing drive, Luke Rarig got the angle on the receiver and picked-off the pass at mid-field. Juking several would-be tacklers, Rarig took it the distance to put Southern up by 21.
A three-and-out series by South gave Southern the ball at their 36. This time instead of a time-consuming drive, Adam Feudale took it to the house on the second play from 63 yards out. With the score at 28-0 the frustration was visible for the Mounties.
South fullback, Brandon Stonge was determined not to fall behind any further as he clipped off runs of 11 and 10 yards successively. On third-and-eight from their own 41 with the Tiger defense selling out to the blitz, the Mounties gambled on a wide screen pass from Tyler House to Matt Bartholomew. The gamble paid off with Bartholomew racing 59 yards down the sideline for the score with 3:50 remaining in the first half.
The Tigers calmly responded four plays later when Young connected with Bryce Parry on a beautifully thrown 53 yard touchdown strike. The teams went into half-time with a score of 35-7.
Coach Roth only kept his starting line-up in for one offensive set in the second half. It was all they would need. Lupold traveled about 100 yards on the opening play, breaking tackles and changing direction multiple times to net a 47 yard gain to the Mountie 27. Young hit Kleman for 18 to set up a first-and-goal, then Hunter burst through for the nine yard score. Swank’s PAT made it 42-7 and set the mercy rule clock in motion.
South managed two scores during mercy rule play as the Tigers went to wholesale substitution. In all, Southern Columbia did not turn the ball over and never needed to punt in the contest. Young went six for nine passing for 107 yards and a touchdown. Adam Feudale led the rushing with 107 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. The balanced rushing attack yielded 341 yards on 36 carries for a total of 448 yards and five touchdowns, plus the 49 yard interception return by Rarig. The Mounties compiled 175 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while going five for 13 passing for 116 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
South Williamsport (3-1) travels to Turbotville next week to take on a struggling Warrior Run (0-4) team. If they can regroup from this loss they have a good shot at a rematch during District playoffs.
Southern Columbia (4-0) now shares the lead in the PA Heartland Conference div. III with Muncy(4-0) who is, incidentally, the Tigers’ next opponent. Southern will host Indian head coach and former Tiger running back Jay Drumheller as Muncy brings their perfect record to Catawissa next Friday night for the Tigers’ 2012 homecoming game.
SCORING:
Hunter: 28 yd. TD run @ 4:49(1st) SCA 7-0
Lupold: 6 yd. TD run @ 10:19(2nd) SCA 14-0
Rarig: 49 yd. interception return TD @ 7:29(2nd) SCA 21-0
Feudale: 63 yd. TD run @ 5:46(2nd) SCA 28-0
House – Bartolomew: 59 yd. catch & run TD @ 3:50(2nd) SCA 28-7
Young – Parry: 53 yd. TD pass @2:09(2nd) SCA 35-7
Hunter: 9 yd. TD run @ 8:38(3rd) SCA 42-7
House – #21 32 yd. TD pass@ 0:32(3rd) SCA 42-14
Bartholomew: 6 yd. TD run @ 1:31(4th) SCA 42-21
