Rockets win critical TCS game, 21-6
JEFFERSON — Senior tailback Colten Davidson rumbled for 181 yards and senior wideout DL Garrett hauled in a pair of touchdown passes, as Jefferson-Morgan defeated Mapletown, 21-6, Friday night in a critical Tri-County South Conference game.
Both teams were in the mix for the fifth and final playoff spot out of the conference heading into the game with four weeks left in the regular season.
J-M, who has won eight of the last 11 meetings against its Greene County rival, now owns the head-to-head tiebreaker against Mapletown.
“This is a huge win for us,” J-M coach Aaron Giorgi said. “The last couple of years our games against Mapletown have come down to overtime. Mapletown is going to run the ball and their kids are hard-nosed. This was a physical, smash-mouth game.
“Tonight, I was really impressed with our offensive line. Colten ran the ball very hard. DL made some nice plays on the outside and our defense stepped up. On defense, we had to get to the football and gang-tackle. We’ve been preaching 11 hats to the football.”
Davidson was the workhorse for the Rockets (3-4, 2-2) with 22 carries, while Garrett was the big-play catalyst in the contest by adding 41 yards rushing and two interceptions on defense.
J-M was able to hold Mapletown senior running back Dylan Rush in check, as Rush had 40 carries for 193 yards and a touchdown.
“We didn’t play well in the first half,” Mapletown coach George Messich said. “Our kids didn’t quit and played better in the second half. Dylan’s been sick all this week and didn’t practice one day. We were not even sure if Dylan was going to play tonight. He battled through it and wanted to be there for his teammates. I give him a lot of credit.”
Coming into the game, Rush led the WPIAL in rushing yards (1,256) and points scored (118). For his career, Rush has 5,747 career rushing yards and trails West Greene’s Rodney Wilson in Greene County all-time rushing by 557 yards.
The Rockets took a 7-0 lead on their opening drive, when junior quarterback Jacob Broadwater found Garrett for a 19-yard scoring completion with 9:38 left in the first.
After the teams traded fumbles and scoreless drives, Garrett came up huge on defense with an interception that set up J-M with the ball at the 44-yard line.
Six plays later, Davidson made it 13-0 after a 10-yard scoring run.
“We have struggled with running the ball this year,” Giorgi said. “I think we have the right five guys on the line now and they are jelling for us. The fullbacks were unselfish and did a tremendous job of blocking. We got the second level and were able to get some big runs. We are finally coming together as an offense.”
The Maples (2-5, 1-4) had their best drive going in the late stages of the second period, but their 17-play drive was halted by an interception by Garrett at the 1-yard line.
“We made a lot of mistakes and couldn’t finish off drives,” Messich said. “Give Jefferson a lot of credit, they played well and cashed in on some big plays. We knew it was going to be a physical, run-first type of game. That’s Greene County football for you.”
Mapletown opened the third quarter with another steady drive, but this time Rush was able to ramble into the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown run at the 5:21 mark of the third. J-M’s defense stiffen up and stopped Rush on the two-point run.
The Rockets’ defense came up with another momentum-changing play near the end of the third quarter when they stuffed Rush on a fourth-and-one near midfield.
On the ensuing drive and on the second play of the fourth quarter, Broadwater hooked up with Garrett for a 42-yard catch-and-run that found the end zone.
“DL is a dynamic player,” Giorgi said. “You just have to give him the ball in space and his talent will open things up. He creates mismatches and did a good job with yards after the catch tonight. We always try to find ways for him to get the ball.”
Davison converted the two-point run and J-M led 21-6 with 11:27 remaining.
There was a scary moment midway of the fourth quarter, when J-M’s senior Josh Agnew laid motionless for minutes on the field after making a tackle on defense. Agnew was carted off the field and was placed in the ambulance for further evaluation.
Both teams will be back in TCS action next week, as J-M travels to Carmichaels and Mapletown welcomes Fort Cherry.
Tri-County South Conference
Mapletown 0-0-6-0 — 6
Jefferson-Morgan 7-6-0-8 — 21
First Quarter
JM: DL Garrett 19 pass from Jacob Broadwater (Josh Clites kick), 9:38 (7-0)
Second Quarter
JM: Colten Davidson 10 run (kick failed), 8:48 (13-0)
Third Quarter
MP: Dylan Rush 10 run (run failed), 5:21 (13-6)
Fourth Quarter
JM: Garrett 42 pass from Broadwater (Davidson run), 11:27 (21-6)
Records: Mapletown (2-5, 1-4), Jefferson-Morgan (3-4, 2-2).