SCA had historic offensive performance
Let’s not sugarcoat it, nobody was looking forward to the matchup between Southern Columbia and Milton on Friday night. The Tigers came in riding a 56-game regular season winning streak dating back to 2011. The Black Panthers hadn’t won a single game since early in the 2015 season. With that being said, anyone looking for a change in results, at this point it is okay to stop reading.
Jim Roth’s Tigers won the matchup decisively 75-28 as Southern Columbia celebrated their annual Homecoming. The 75 points were the 3rd most that a Southern Columbia team has scored in school history and just two points shy of setting the school mark. “Offensively we looked as sharp as we have all year. Between the run and the pass, we just were clicking. Obviously Milton is struggling, but from an execution standpoint I was definitely pleased,” said Roth after his Tigers joined the 1969 and 2004 teams as the third team ever to top the 70-point barrier. The other two teams scored 76 points in their respective wins.
With how dominant SCA’s offense looked, Milton’s passing game did provide the Tigers secondary with some questions that need be answered as the regular season starts to wind down. “To be honest, I think the fact that we were playing a struggling opponent had a lot to do with it. We had off school the last two days, and I don’t want to make excuses, but I think we played a little lazy,” said SCA defensive end AJ Goodlunas. “We need to do a better job of executing with our pass rush and coverage the rest of the year and I think we will.”
Milton scored three first half touchdowns on long pass plays of 60, 67, and 77 yards. The first two touchdowns went to Quaylin Rice and the last to Francisco Manzano. Quarterback Philip Davis competed 12 of 22 passes in the first half for 267 yards and those three touchdowns. “We definitely have some things to watch on film to find ways to improve in our pass coverage,” said Roth. “Our secondary has played pretty good during the first half of the season, but tonight we struggled. I give Milton credit for executing through the air against us for sure.”
The two evident things that kept Milton from having a chance to compete with SCA were their running game and overall defense. Milton’s rushing attack, which only produced two rushes that went for positive yardage in the opening half, was ineffective throughout the course of the game. Milton coach Phil Davis said, “Southern is a tremendous team and they have a tremendous coach and I have so much respect for him and how he handles things.’’ The Black Panthers defense was about as useless as a keyboard without keys, and it allowed the Tigers to score nine touchdowns in the opening half with Elijah Hoffman converting on each PAT.
Sophomores Gaige Garcia and Julian Fleming combined to score five touchdowns on their first five touches of the game. Garcia’s first carry went for a 10-yard touchdown and his second was a 61-yard dash to pay dirt. Fleming caught touchdown passes from Stone Hollenbach on passes of 35 and 59 yards. The highly recruited prospect also returned a kickoff 78 yards for a touchdown. “We came out firing on all cylinders on offense and special teams. We made it a point of emphasis to execute on our blocking assignments and I think we did a really good job of that,” Tiger lineman Oak Six said. Garcia would go on to add a third touchdown of his own later in the second quarter on a 74-yard run.
Fullback Jeff Cox scored two touchdowns during the first half offensive onslaught on runs of 40 and three yards. “Everything seemed to go great for us on offense tonight. The line was blocking really well and the running backs did a good job of finding the running lanes. Losing Tom Manley for the season, we need the new guys to step in and I think they will prove to be able to get the job done,” Cox said. The ninth Tiger touchdown in the first half came from the defense when linebacker Cal Haladay returned an interception 43 yards for a score.
With the Tigers leading 63-21 at halftime, the starters were done for the evening with the exception of one position. “Well we need to try and figure out our backfield now in terms of our one wing position. Tristan Heim and Ty Roadarmel rotated at that one halfback spot and both have shown some nice things this year. Then Nate Crowl came in and did a real nice job in the fourth quarter” said Roth. Tom Manley’s senior season ended earlier in the week due to personal matters, so SCA is looking to find a replacement between the three of those guys.
After neither team scored in the third quarter, Peyton Pursel scored early in the fourth quarter on a two yard plunge to put the Tigers up 69-21. Jason Valladares scores for Milton on a 36-yard scamper and then the games final points came on a 61-yard carry from Crowl, who finished with over 100 yards, to make the final score 75-28 in favor of Southern Columbia.
Milton will try and get their first win of the season next week against a struggling Mount Carmel squad who have dropped three consecutive games. The Tigers, who are ranked No. 1 in the state at the AA level, will be heavy favorites again as they take on Montoursville at home. The Warriors will be the second straight winless team that SCA has to mentally prepare for.
SCA: 35-28-0-12 = 75
MIL: 14-7-0-7 = 28
SOUTHERN COLUMBIA (6-0)
RUSHING:
Gaige Garcia 5-176, 3 TD’s; Nate Crowl 7-102, TD; Jeff Cox 6-68, 2 TD’s; Tristan Heim 10-38; Ty Roadarmel 3-28; Cade Linn 4-33; Peyton Pursel 6-10, TD
PASSING:
Stone Hollenbach 4-4-0, 124 yds, 2 TD’s
RECEIVING:
Julian Fleming 2-94, 2 TD’s; Gaige Garcia 1-20; Preston Zachman 1-10
1st DOWNS: 19
PENALTIES: 8-85
MILTON (0-6)
RUSHING:
Jason Valladares 1-36, TD; Mason Edison 1-5; Alex Garcia 15-(-6); Qamar Bradley 2-(-8)
PASSING:
Philip Davis 13-23-1, 275 yds., 3 TD
RECEIVING:
Quaylin Rice 3-131, 2 TD; Francisco Manzano 3-89, TD; Jalil Garrison 3-22; Alex Garcia 3-15; Qamar Bradley 1-18
1st DOWNS: 8
PENALTIES: 5-30
Milton stats provided by Damien Scoblink (PE)
