Tigers Celebrate on All Cylinders

Dave Fegley (Black Diamond Sports Network):

Southern Columbia honored the class of 1963 before kickoff on Friday night because this season marks the 50th year of football for the program. It was also the homecoming game for the Tigers. Add in the atmosphere, an October night that was around 75 degrees by kickoff, with a full sections of bleachers on both sides cheering on their respective teams. With all that being said, it only took the Seals 50 seconds into the game to take the early lead on a 75-yard pass play. Southern’s Nick Becker had a stretch in the first half where he was only 2 for 7 passing. Fullback Adam Feudale’s first carry was a short gain, and a host of Seal defenders brought him down with authority and got off the pile with excitement. The Tigers leading receiver, Luke Rarig, was held to one catch for four yards on the night. One of Southern’s starting running backs, Nate Hunter, didn’t even have a carry until late in the second quarter and that resulted in only a two yard gain. What a shame, the Seals ruined the Tigers festivities…No, not even close.

The stats that were just given are accurate, but are out of context. In fact, the game was dominated by the Tigers, and when I say dominated, I mean an all out beat down by the Tigers. Southern Columbia (6-0) climbed out to a 33-7 first quarter lead and ended up defeating Selinsgrove (3-3) by a score of 54-14. Coach Jim Roth, who has won six state titles and twenty-one district titles, was asked if he could remember a first quarter like the one the Tigers complied in any of his thirty plus years at the helm for the Tigers and he simply said, “Probably not, with the combination of the two, throwing and running and the amount of big yardage plays right from the start.”

Southern won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Senior Nate Hunter returned the kick to midfield. On the first play of the drive, Matt Lupold picked up 15 yards to put the ball at the 35. The very next play quarterback Nick Becker found Blake Marks open downfield for a 35 yard touchdown pass. Just 34 seconds into the game, and the Tigers were up 6-0. However, the Seals answered back immediately. On their first offensive play of the game, Isaiah Rapp threw a deep ball to Mason Pope who got behind the Tiger secondary and ran it in for a 75 yard touchdown. Now only 50 seconds into the game, the visitors were up 7-6 and it was the first time SCA has trailed all year.

The Seals weren’t in the lead for very long because on the ensuing possession, Marks picked up 34 yards on one carry and then finished off the scoring drive from four yards out to put the Tigers back in front 13-7 with 9:24 still remaining in the opening quarter. Southern’s defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession. SCA got the ball on their 48 yard line and it only took three plays to find the end zone again. Becker threw a screen pass to Adam Feudale that resulted in a 34 yard gain. Feudale then finished things off two plays later by bulling his way into the endzone from 14 yards out to extend the lead to 19-7.

Southern’s defense was now locked in for good. They forced another three-and-out giving the ball back to the offense. The scoring play on that drive was a 43 yard touchdown pass from Becker to Marks again and the score was now 26-7 at the midway point of the opening quarter. “I got to give the credit to my o-line and receivers. All I have to do is make the throw and they do the rest,” said Becker. The Tigers defense forced another three-and-out and Becker was at it again. This time he found the newest Tiger, Shamokin Area transfer Zach Tillett, from 34 yards out to make the score 33-7 in favor of the Tigers after only one quarter. “I just really appreciate the effort from all the lineman and backs blocking,” said Becker giving credit to his teammates.

To start the second quarter, Luke Rarig forced a turnover by intercepting Rapp’s pass and giving the Tigers the ball at the Tigers 23. It only took the high-powered offense three plays to find the end-zone yet again. Becker threw his fourth touchdown pass of the opening half, the second to Tillett, on a 50 yard bomb to make the score 40-7. “Confidence, a lot more confidence here,” said Tillett when asked about the biggest difference making the move to SCA. “We told coach throughout the first half what we thought was open and he made some great calls,” Tillett said referring to some of the play calls.

After the tenacious Tiger defense came up with yet again another three-and-out, the Tigers were able to put another TD on the board before the half ended. Feudale, who had 126 yards on just six carries for the night, busted through the defense and picked up 58 yards to the two yard line of the Seals. Nate Hunter finished things off from two yards out making the score 47-7 at the half. “The passing game has come along to the extent that we just have a lot of weapons right now. With the backs rotating and not getting as many carries, it just seems that everyone is hungrier every time they touch the ball,” said Roth referring to all his offensive stars. The main one against the Seals was certainly his sophomore quarterback. Becker was very impressive, finishing the half 8-13 for 222 yards and four touchdown passes.

The second half allowed both teams to get some of their younger players experience with the score as lopsided as it was. Each team was able to add another touchdown to the scoreboard. Angelo Martin scored on a one yard run for the Seals in the third quarter and Billy Marzeski added another for the Tigers on a 12 yard touchdown run in the fourth which made the final score 54-14. Both teams will be home next week. Milton will travel to Selinsgrove and Southern will host rival Bloomsburg.

SCA: 33-14-0-7= 54

Sel: 7-0-7-0= 14

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (6-0)

RUSHING:

Adam Feudale 6-126 , TD; Nate Hunter 3-10, TD; Matt Lupold 8-46; Blake Marks 6-60,  TD; Nick Becker 2-6; Billy Marzeski 3-31, TD; Matt Jeremiah 8-69; Jake Potter 4-17; Sami Abdul 1-9

PASSING:

Nick Becker 8-13-0, 222 yds, 4 TD

RECEIVING:

Blake Marks 2-72, 2 TD; Zach Tillett 2-84, 2 TD; Nate Hunter 1-8; Luke Rarig 1-4; Adam Feudale 1-34; Matt Lupold 1-14

1^st DOWNS: 24

PENALTIES: 7-45

SELINSGROVE (3-3)

RUSHING:

Angelo Martin 10-28, TD; Conner Liesenfeld 7-16; Joe Radel 2-4; Angel Figueroa 1-4; Isaiah Rapp 3-(-13)

PASSING:

Isaiah Rapp 7-14-1, 143 yds., TD

RECEIVING:

Mason Pope 2-104, TD; Ben Kahn 2-10; Colin Hoke 1-11; Curtis Banasiak 1-11; Isaac Davis 1-7

1^st DOWNS: 6

PENALTIES: 6-45

Final Selinsgrove stats courtesy of Damien Scoblink (Press Enterprise)