Tigers Defense Looked Solid in Opener

Southern’s Rarig injured early on

By: Dave Fegley (Twitter: @DFegs9)

Southern Columbia traveled to Mifflinburg to win the opening game of the 2014 season. The win also marks the first victory for the Tigers in program history at the Class AA level in their first try. They also found a potential breakout linebacker in senior transfer Billy Barnes, who is an outstanding wrestler from Williamson High School. “It was kind of a guessing game with him because he hasn’t played football since 8^th grade. Obviously he is a tremendous athlete which showed by him placing at the state wrestling tournament the past couple of years,” said Southern Columbia head coach Jim Roth. Unfortunately, even though the Tigers won on the scoreboard 40-14, they may have suffered a gigantic blow to their top player. All-state senior and do-everything player Luke Rarig, left the game late in the opening quarter with a leg injury. “I ran an out pattern and my leg just got caught when I went to cut and I felt a pop,” said Rarig. The Tigers are already down a key returning starter in junior Blake Marks after an injury during a summer passing scrimmage in early July. Marks is set to return in a couple of weeks after recovering from his injury. “Obviously Luke is a very explosive player, but right now he is on crutches so that is a huge concern,” said Roth who may be down his best player for a timeframe that is unknown as of now.

Rarig started off the scoring for the season after catching a 12 yard pass in the corner of the end zone from quarterback Nick Becker. Matt Jeremiah scored the second touchdown of the game after Steve Toczylousky recovered a fumble in Wildcats territory. The Tigers would take the two touchdown lead into the second quarter, but Rarig’s night would be over after getting injured on the pass pattern. “I knew I hurt it on the previous play, but I decided to stay in and punt. That was stupid because when I came down and landed on my plant foot, it just gave out again,” Rarig said. “I had to watch the rest of the time, so I saw Barnes make some big plays and fly around the field. It was nice to see a player making an impact like that in his first game.” In the first quarter alone, Rarig was able to show everyone at the stadium just how valuable he is. He scored a touchdown on a great route pattern, made three tackles behind the line of scrimmage, kicked two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, and had a nice punt on the play that he felt his leg give out for the second time.

With the loss of Rarig, Barnes stepped up his game to another level that probably even surprised him. “It was really fun being able to get back out on the football field for the first time in a while. I knew Southern had a good football tradition when I moved here, so I wanted to go out for the team and make the most of it,” Barnes said. In the second quarter, Barnes recorded six tackles, a sack, and an acrobatic interception to lead the defense. “I thought the ball was going to go over my head, but I was able to jump up and get a piece of it. Then I stayed focused and pulled it in on the way down,” said Barnes about his interception. The Wildcats got the ball right back however on the very next play when Becker was intercepted by Brett Luhrman.

Only a couple plays later, Southern’s Billy Marzeski would pick off Mifflinburg’s Jordan Wagner from his outside linebacker position. Behind a strong effort by the SCA offensive line, Bloomsburg transfer Hunter Thomas would take it in from a yard out to put the Tigers up 21-0. Then on the next series, Thomas busted off a 44 yard gain to set up Becker for a seven yard rushing touchdown to put the Tigers up 26-0. Mifflinburg tried to answer late in the half, but Wagner was picked off for the third time in the opening half, this time by Toczylousky.

Southern’s Matt Jeremiah and Brad Noll would each score on the ground in the third quarter to put the visitors up 40-0 after three, allowing them to get some starters rest. Mifflinburg was able to take advantage in the fourth by scoring two touchdowns on a 36 yard touchdown pass from Wagner to Ryan Miller and a short run by James Zack. At the end of the game the scoreboard was in the favor of Southern, but the main concern is the injuries the team suffered in the process. On top of Rarig’s injury, starting defensive end and tight end Chase Tillett was in street clothes for the second half and Jeremiah limped off the field in the fourth quarter as well. “I don’t think Jeremiah’s is anything serious, but Luke and Chase’s are more of a concern. Obviously there isn’t a doctor making a diagnosis at the game, but Luke seems to be having the most trouble,” Roth stated. The Tigers will head home next week to take on a Bloomsburg squad that got manhandled by Danville on Friday night, so one can expect that the Tigers will want to take care of business early to rest the starters. Mifflinburg will play host to the Danville team that won in convincing fashion next week at Wildcat Stadium.

SCA: 14-12-14-0 = 40

MIFF: 0-0-0-14 = 14

SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (1-0)

RUSHING:

Matt Jeremiah 14-96, TD; Hunter Thomas 6-77, TD; Brad Noll 8-59, TD; Nick Becker 6-46, TD; Jake Potter 4-22; Jared Torres 4-23; Justin Derk 1-7; Sami Abdul 3-1

PASSING:

Nick Becker 6-9-1, 76 yds, TD; Justin Derk 1-1-0, 1 yd

RECEIVING:

Luke Rarig 1-12, TD; Hunter Thomas 2-44; Mike Klebon 2-16; Steve Toczylousky 1-4; Sami Abdul 1-1

1st DOWNS: 22

PENALTIES: 2-15

MIFFLINBURG (0-1)

RUSHING:

Brayden Pierce 10-71; Tyler Stolzfus 5-38; Brett Luhrman 4-22; Eric Stroup 1-3; Jordan Wagner 2-(-18), James Zack 1-1, TD

PASSING:

Jordan Wagner 10-22-3, 96 yds, TD

RECEIVING:

Tristan Martin 4-27; Brett Luhrman 3-11; Brian Zimmerman 2-57, TD; James Zack 1-1

1st DOWNS: 12

PENALTIES: 2-25

Final Mifflinburg stats courtesy of Damien Scoblink (Press Enterprise)