Forsythe, Johnson a dynamic duo
Johnson and Forsythe or Forsythe and Johnson might sound like a good business partnership. It was certainly a good football tandem on Friday as Fred Johnson and Jake Forsythe accounted for nearly 290 yards of total offense, five touchdowns, and two interceptions as Uniontown defeated visiting Albert Gallatin, 40-0. In winning, the Red Raiders kept their slim playoff hopes alive with games remaining at Derry Area and at home against conference-leading Ringgold.
Johnson gave Uniontown the lead for good on the Red Raiders’ second series when he caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Joe Superick for a 7-0 lead after Lucas Mosco’s conversion kick.
Uniontown’s second touchdown drive was a bizarre series that included seven consecutive penalties, of which one nullified a 36-yard touchdown pass. The Red Raiders eventually faced second-and-47 from their own 39. But, consecutive passes from Superick to Forsythe for 28 yards and 25 yards set up Forsythe’s 3-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead.
On the next Albert Gallatin series, an interception by Deion Ricks set up a drive that was capped by Forsythe’s 19-yard touchdown run.
Johnson’s interception on the next series led to a 34-yard scoring pass from Superick to Dominic Gibson for a 27-0 halftime lead.
Uniontown (2-3, 3-4) drove 52 yards to score after the second half kickoff, fueled by Johnson’s 25-yard run and capped by Forsythe’s 20-yard touchdown pass from Superick.
Albert Gallatin (0-5, 0-7) stalled on the next drive and punter Shawn Smearcheck was dropped at the AG 18-yard line when he attempted to run with the ball. Johnson carried twice for 13 yards, and Forsythe twice for 10 yards, including the 2-yard touchdown run, that ended the scoring at 40-0.
Albert Gallatin had less than 60 yards of offense, with Grayling Sanders accounting for 42 yards on 10 carries.
Albert Gallatin coach Jeff Rush said, “I told the team I don’t know what to say. (Uniontown) has got a ton of talent and kids who can really run. No. 9 (Johnson) has speed and moves. He’s a great running back. No. 40 (Forsythe) is one of the toughest kids we’ve played against. He’s hard to bring down.”
Uniontown coach John Fortugna said he’d never seen anything like the Red Raiders’ penalty-riddled second drive.
“Both of our backs ran very well. Everything was on all cylinders tonight on offense and defense. We still made some penalties but the kids came through for us. That No. 3 (Sanders) is their best kid and we stopped him.”
Fortugna said his team wouldn’t take Friday’s game at Derry Area for granted. “We’ve got to win out and get some help,” said Fortuna of his team’s hopes to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.