Second-half mistakes cost Colonials against Derry Area
DERRY – The Albert Gallatin football team enjoyed a stellar first-half performance Friday night. It was the second half that denied the Colonials a chance at WPIAL Class AAA playoff berth.
Albert Gallatin couldn’t overcome second-half mistakes as Derry Area used a big third quarter to rally past the Colonials, 28-14 and clinch a playoff spot during a WPIAL Class AAA Keystone Conference game Friday night at Derry Stadium.
“We just didn’t play well in the second half,” Albert Gallatin coach Bill Elias said. “We had problems stopping them and they moved the ball on us.”
Derry Area running back Domenic Hoffman scored twice in the third quarter and caught a two-point conversion as the Trojans used a suffocating defensive performance to score 15 unanswered points and rally from a one-point halftime deficit.
The Trojan (3-2, 3-5) defense didn¹t allow Albert Gallatin (2-4, 3-5) to gain a yard in the third quarter.
Following a second straight three-and-out, Derry Area took over at the Albert Gallatin 31 and Hoffman capped a six-play, 31-yard drive when he scored from two yards away to give Derry Area the lead for good.
The Derry Area defense came up with another three-and-out and a shanked punt put the Trojan offense on the Colonials¹ 18. Hoffman scored his second of the quarter, making it 28-14 with a seven-yard run.
“We made some costly mistakes and had bad field position a couple times,” Elias said. “They capitalized on every mistake we made.”
Albert Gallatin fumbled the ensuing kickoff and dodged a bullet when the Trojans recovered and couldn’t score from the Colonials’ eight-yard line.
Albert Gallatin found life after a blocked punt, but the Trojans swung the momentum on the following play with an interception.
The Colonials were only able to pick up 50 yards in the second half as standout running back Grayling Sanders, who gained 153 yards last week, was held in check with 37 yards on 13 carries.
Albert Gallatin didn’t pick up a second-half first down until late in the fourth quarter.
It was different than Albert Gallatin’s first half, where the Colonials scored the first touchdown and added a late score to take a 14-13 lead into the break.
Albert Gallatin marched to the Derry Area 3 on its first possession thanks to a pair of big runs from Sanders. It took three plays but Albert Gallatin took a 7-0 lead on a one-yard plunge from quarterback Cody Peebles.
Derry Area responded with a mammoth 16-play, 80-yard series to tie the game. Running back Tyler Leitza gave Derry Area the lead with a three-yard run on fourth-and-goal. A blocked extra point made it 13-7.
Albert Gallatin answered with a score to take the lead before halftime. The Colonials converted three fourth downs on the series, but the last one was the most important. Peebles launched a deep pass down the sideline on fourth-and-15 and Aaron King made the catch for a 33-yard score t give Albert Gallatin a 14-13 halftime lead.
It was the second half that did the Colonials in.
“Our kids didn¹t play as well as they did during the first half,” Elias said. “We just had a problem stopping them.’