Big second half leads Trojans to 44-28 victory
California Cochise Ryan scores a touchdown against Mapletown after pulling in a second-quarter pass in their game last season. Ryan was only a freshman then and now enters his sophomore year with the Trojans as he looks to contribute at running back and defensive back.
California quarterback Collin Phillips is sacked for a 5-yard loss by Mapletown's Richard Cacurak (8) during the first quarter of Friday's Tri-County South Conference contest at at Mapletown High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Mapletown’s Dylan Rush (9) avoids the reach of California’s Tyler Rothfuss (24) and makes a first and goal for the Maples, setting up their first touchdown early in the first quarter in Friday’s Tri-County South game at Mapletown High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Mapletown’s Dylan Rush (9) finds a hole through several California defenders on his way to an 80-yard touchdown run during their Tri-County South Conference game on Sept. 23 at Mapletown High School. Rush was the runaway winner of the 2016 Herald-Standard Touchdown Club contest with 144 points, 50 more than his closest competitor.
California wide receiver Kass Taylor (2) hauls in a 42-yard pass from the Trojans quarterback Collin Phillips during second quarter of Friday's Tri-County South game against Mapletown at Mapletown High School.
California quarterback Collin Phillips (1) keeps the ball and gains five yards before being stopped by Mapletown's Ron Burkholder-Walter (74) and Lane Powell (77) in Friday's Tri-County South game at Mapletown High School.
California's Tim Sheehan (56) causes Mapletown's quarterback to fumble the ball during the second quarter. The ball was picked up by California's Josh Altman, who ran it in for a Trojan touchdown in Friday's Tri-County South game at Mapletown High School.
GREENSBORO — Trailing by two at halftime, California erupted for 30 points in the second half and upended Mapletown, 44-28, in the Herald-Standard Game of the Week Friday night in a critical Tri-County South Conference contest.
“It was nice to get back on track,” Cal coach Darrin Dillow said. “Last week was a tough loss. We needed this one and now every week is going to be a big week. We were pretty flat in the first half, and we cleaned up some things. We simplified some things.”
With the game deadlocked 22-22 at the end of three quarters, the Trojans (3-2, 2-1) broke away from the tie three plays into the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Wood. Dustin Mock’s PAT made it 29-22 with 11:11 left in the fourth.
The Maples (3-2, 2-1) responded on their next drive, as Dylan Rush capped off a 10-play, 60-yard drive with an 11-yard scoring run at the 5:18 mark of the fourth. Mapletown went for a two-point run, but Rush was short of the goal line.
After a failed onsides kick attempt, California increased its lead to 36-28 four plays later when Cochise Ryan sprinted in for a 6-yard touchdown run with 3:25 remaining.
Mapletown made a costly mistake on the ensuing kickoff, as the Maples fumbled the ball back to the visitors at the 16-yard line.
One play later Wood cemented the road victory with a 16-yard touchdown run and the two-point conversion run to give the Trojans a 16-point lead with 3:09 left in regulation.
“They wore us down in the fourth quarter,” Mapletown coach George Messich said. “We are a small team and a lot of our starters just don’t get off the field. California is a good team and they ran the ball effectively in key situations.”
After only carrying the ball five times for negative three yards in the first half, Wood exploded in the final 24 minutes and finished the game with 103 yards on 18 carries and two, crucial scores in the final quarter.
“It was very important for us to the get the win tonight,” Wood said. “We made some adjustments at halftime and the coaches challenge us. We came out more aggressive and our running game picked up. We brought the right intensity in the second half.”
The quarterback duo of Austin Grillo and Collin Phillips combined for 159 passing yards, while Phillips added 41 rushing yards. Kass Taylor caught two balls for 76 yards.
Rush continued his strong season for Mapletown, as he finished his night with 258 yards on 26 rushes. Rush also added four touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversion runs to pad his lead in the Herald-Standard Touchdown Club race to 106 total points.
Tanner Griffin threw for 72 yards on 6-of-13 passing, while RJ Durr rushed for 24 yards and made some key plays on defense and in the return game.
The Maples took an 8-0 lead into the second quarter after a 4-yard touchdown run by Rush, but the Trojans made it 8-7 two plays into the second period with a 16-yard scoring toss to Ryan from Grillo.
Rush added his second score of the night, this one by way of an 80-yard rumble to the end zone. After a successful two-point run by Rush, Mapletown was up 16-7.
“Dylan was able to get his yards,” Messich said. “We blocked well as a team and I thought we were able to hit some big plays. Tanner threw the ball well tonight and he was able to convert some third downs with some big, pass plays. We are only going to get better on offense, and we have to bounce back the next couple of weeks.”
With 7:22 left in the second stanza, Cal’s defense got into the scoring when Tim Sheehan sacked and forced a fumble, as Josh Altman alertly picked up the ball for a 16-yard fumble return.
“Our defensive end just sacked the quarterback and I broke away from my coverage,” Altman said. “I didn’t hear a whistle or anything, so I just picked up the fumble and ran it in for the touchdown. We had a big night on defense and we knew it was going to be tough so slow down their back. We had to gang-tackle and plug up holes up front.”
On their opening drive of the third quarter, the Trojans took their first lead of the contest when offensive lineman Nick Barron recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. Grillo added a two-point run for a 22-14 advantage for Cal.
After an interception by Durr, the Maples knotted things up with a 59-yard scamper to the end zone by Rush. Mapletown missed the extra point to set the stage for a thrilling final quarter of play.
“Dylan Rush is a very good running back,” Dillow said. “He is tough to completely shut down and he is going to get his long runs. He was a little banged up late, and I thought we made enough plays on him. We had to contain him and slow him down in key spots.”
Both teams will be back in TCS action next Friday, as California hosts Monessen and Mapletown travels to Carmichaels.
Section 2-A
Tri-County South Conference
California 0-14-8-22 — 44
Mapeltown 8-8-6-6 — 28
First Quarter
Map: Dylan Rush 4 run (Rush run), 8:20 (0-8)
Second Quarter
Cal: Cochise Ryan 16 pass from Austin Grillo (Dustin Mock kick), 11:03 (7-8)
Map: Rush 80 run (Rush run), 10:49 (7-16)
Cal: Josh Altman 16 fumble return (Mock kick), 7:22 (14-16)
Third Quarter
Cal: Nick Barron recovered fumble in end zone (Grillo run), 8:17 (22-16)
Map: Rush 59 run (kick failed), 0:28 (22-22)
Fourth Quarter
Cal: Jonathan Wood 3 run (Mock kick), 11:11 (29-22)
Map: Rush 11 run (run failed), 5:18 (29-28)
Cal: Ryan 6 run (Mock kick), 3:25
Cal: Wood 16 run (Wood run), 3:09
Records: California (3-2, 2-1), Mapletown (3-2, 2-1)