Spartans use big plays to topple Connellsville, 42-28
HEMPFIELD TWP. — Connellsville spotted Hempfield Area a three-touchdown lead five minutes into the first quarter at Spartan Stadium Friday night and fell to the Spartans, 42-28, in a Quad-East conference matchup.
Hempfield took the opening kickoff and scored nine plays later to take a 7-0 lead at the 8:56 mark of the first quarter.
With Connellsville forced to punt on its initial possession, Hempfield’s Joey DeFloria returned the Falcons’ punt 60 yards for a touchdown at 7:19 of the period. Trailing 14-0, Connellsville fumbled on the first play of its ensuing possession and Hempfield’s DeLorian Day returned the ball 28 yards for the Spartans’ third touchdown in a 1:53 span.
When asked if he ever saw three touchdowns in such rapid succession to open a game, Connellsville coach Dave McDonald smiled and replied, “That’s our M.O. We saw it happen last week (against Gateway).”
Trailing 21-0 almost as quickly as the final words from the National Anthem trailed off, McDonald said he glanced at the sidelines and “saw some wide-eyed players who could have abandoned the ship, but we made up our minds to get back in the game.”
Get back in the game they did as Connellsville quarterback Jade Maher sprinted around his right end for a 45-yard touchdown at 4:28 of the first quarter to cut into Hempfield’s lead, making the score 21-7.
But just as quickly Hempfield quarterback Ty George scored on a one-yard run with 2:52 left in the period to make the score 27-7.
On Connellsville’s initial drive of the second quarter, Maher connected with Jimmy DeMarco on a three-yard touchdown pass to narrow Hempfield’s lead to 27-14.
With a stiffened defense that forced Hempfield (2-1, 2-1) to punt on successive drives, Connellsville twice drove into Hempfield territory, to the 35- and 4-yard lines, but turned the ball over on downs and misfired on a field goal.
Then, as fans were heading for their halftime concessions, DeFloria scored on a 70-yard run with 40 ticks remaining on the first-half clock for a 35-14 Hempfield lead at intermission.
DeFloria piled up 158 yards rushing on 14 first-half carries. He added a 72-yard touchdown run at the 9:04 mark of the fourth quarter — after Connellsville’s Christopher Russell scored on a 10-yard run — to finish the scoring. DeFloria finished with 262 yards rushing on 26 carries.
“We just couldn’t stop DeFloria,” McDonald said. “He is one outstanding running back. He just made the big plays when Hempfield needed them. We could not tackle him. He just broke our backs. Our emphasis this week in a good week of practice was to get to the ball and prevent the big plays, but we couldn’t do that.”
In addition to his touchdown runs, DeFloria had carries of 12, 14, and 32 yards, all in the first quarter.
“But at the same time we could have bagged it after we fell behind 21-0, but these guys refused to quit,” McDonald continued. “They showed tremendous heart and character. We made some offensive and defensive adjustments at the half and came out stronger for the third- and fourth-quarters. We were down 14 at the half and we came back. I’m proud of our second-half effort.”
Connellsville, however, suffered a similar offensive fate in the third quarter when drives stalled at the Hempfield 9- and 13-yard lines.
Despite falling to 0-3 for the season, McDonald refused to refer to the Falcons’ remaining conference games as “must” wins, including a home game against Norwin on Sept. 27. (Connellsville will host Seneca Valley in a non-conference game next week).
“Our focus is improving each day in practice and in each game,” McDonald said. “We were stopped four times in Hempfield territory and we have to learn to finish our drives.”
While DeFloria stole the show for the Spartans, Maher completed 24-of-36 passes for 228 yards, with junior wide receiver Darrell Ross on the receiving end of 15 passes for 152 yards. Russell topped Connellsville’s ball carriers with 163 yards on 25 attempts. Mike Parlak snagged a 22-yard touchdown pass from Maher late in the third quarter.
Foothills Conference
Connellsville 7-7-6-8 — 28
Hempfield 27-8-0-7 — 42
First Quarter
H: Joey Hoffner 11 pass from Ty George (John Domit kick), 8:56 (0-7)
H: Joey DeFloria 60 punt return (Domit kick), 7:19 (0-14)
H: Delorian Day 28 fumble recovery (Domit kick), 7:03 (0-21)
Con: Jade Maher 45 run (Luke Kisiel kick), 4:28 (7-21)
H: George 1 run (kick failed), 2:52 (7-27)
Second Quarter
Con: Jimmy DeMarco 3 pass from Maher (Kisiel kick), 11:34 (14-27)
H: DeFloria 70 run (Maher run), :40 (14-35)
Third Quarter
Con: Mike Parlak 22 pass from Maher (kick blocked), 2:24 (20-35)
Fourth Quarter
Con: Christopher Russell 10 run (Dylan Knopsnider pass from Maher), 9:27 (28-35)
H: DeFloria 72 run (Domit kick), 9:04 (28-42)