Mustangs winless after loss to Peters
Laurel Highlands remained winless with a 35-7 non-conference loss Friday to visiting Peters Township. The Indians (1-1) turned loose running back Andrew Erenberg who finished the night rushing for 118 yards on only eight carries behind a dominant offensive line. He also hauled in three passes for 81 yards and scored two touchdowns, one on a 40-yard run and the other on a 55-yard scoring toss from quarterback Austin Hancock who had three scoring tosses.
Hancock, who completed 7-of-9 passes for 136 yards, flipped a 6-yard touchdown pass to Chad Loether and a 23-yarder to Harrison Hunter.
“We were able to protect Hancock tonight with our ability to run the football,” Peters Twp. coach Nick Milchovich said. “Erenberg did a nice job running and catching the ball. He’s a hard worker and really knows the game of football and it shows out there.”
For the Mustangs the Indians’ defense took away their running game, holding LH to 61 yards on the ground. Junior quarterback Jake Riddell was forced to the air most of the night, completing 23-of-41 passes for 157 yards.
The Mustangs only score came on a 3-yard run by Dansel Beasley late in the fourth quarter.
“I think Peters Township is a good Quad-A team and tonight I have to admit they beat us in the trenches,” LH head coach Jack Buehner said. “We ran for over 100 yards against McGuffey last week, but tonight it was like we hit a brick wall. You want to be able to run the football. They took that away from us tonight and forced us to the air.”
Laurel Highlands took the opening kickoff at its 35 and drove to the Indians’ 39 and punted a quick kick to the PT 19.
The Indians wasted little time getting their offense moving. PT used runs by Erenberg and John Fazio to get a first down at the 45. On the next play, Hancock found Erenberg slipping behind the Mustangs’ secondary for a 55-yard scoring toss. Keely Binotto kicked the first of his five extra-points on the night to give the Indians a 7-0 lead.
Peters Township took control of the game with three scores in the second quarter. The Indians started their next touchdown drive from their own 20 late in the first quarter. The 9-play drive ended with another touchdown pass from Hancock to Loether covering six yards.
The Indians forced LH to a three-and-out, and took the Mustangs’ punt at their own 40. It only took three plays to get to end zone when Erenberg scored a 5-yard run. Hancock hit Hunter for a 20-yard pass to the LH 40, and then Erenberg went the rest of the on a 40-yard burst.
PT added one more score before the half as Hancock connected with Hunter with a 23-yard pass to give the Indians a 28-0 lead at the half.
“Our kids were really challenged tonight,” Buehner said. “It gives us a chance to get a good look what we need to work on. I don’t think were going to see players of this caliber over the next couple of weeks. I’m forward to starting conference play next week.”
The Indians put the mercy rule into affect on the first play of the second half. Fazio took the second half kickoff at his two-yard line and raced 98 yards for the score, giving the Indians a 35-0 lead to get the clock moving.
The Mustangs avoided a shutout with Beasley’s 3-yard run in the fourth.