Warriors hand Southmoreland 56-13 loss
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Elizabeth Forward’s Keilly Rush sprints to the end zone for a 35-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of Friday’s Interstate Conference game against Southmoreland at Russ Grimm Stadium.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Southmoreland’s J.J. Bloom (25) breaks free from a tackle on his way to an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter of Friday’s Interstate Conference game against Elizabeth Forward at Russ Grimm Stadium.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Southmoreland’s J.J. Bloom holds on to the ball over Elizabeth Forward’s Charles Nigut for a 24-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of Friday’s Interstate Conference game at Russ Grimm Stadium.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Southmoreland’s Anthony Govern sets up in the pocket in the first quarter of Friday’s Interstate Conference game against Elizabeth Forward at Russ Grimm Stadium.
Elizabeth Forward scored four touchdowns of 35 yards or more Friday night to clinch the Interstate Conference title with a 56-13 victory at Southmoreland.
The Warriors improve to 6-0 in the conference and 7-2 overall, and host Yough Friday night in the season finale.
The Scotties go to 3-2 in the conference and 6-3 overall. Southmoreland travels to South Park for the final game. The Scotties clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Eagles, who lost to Mount Pleasant, 28-6.
The first quarter saw the lead seesaw between the teams, including three touchdowns scored in a span of 29 seconds.
The Scotties struck first when J.J. Bloom went up over Charles Nigut to pull down a 25-yard pass from Anthony Govern for the game’s first touchdown. The pass play was set up on Travon Lee’s 25-yard completion to Govern, who lined up as a wide receiver and was uncovered.
The Warriors responded two minutes later on Kyle Flournoy’s 9-yard touchdown run.
The scoring run set off a flurry of touchdowns when Bloom took the ensuing kickoff, broke tackles and cut back to his left for an 88-yard touchdown. The extra point was missed and Southmoreland led 13-7.
Elizabeth Forward came right back on the first offensive snap after the kickoff when Zach Boyd gathered in a Zion White pass, broke a tackle and sprinted 65 yards for a touchdown at 6:35. Logan Beedle’s point-after gave the Warriors the lead, 14-13.
The visitors extended its lead with 1:46 left in the opening quarter when White hit Keilly Rush on a crossing route. Rush broke a tackle and sprinted 35 yards to the end zone.
Southmoreland was driving midway through the second quarter, but Boyd gathered up a fumble and broke free for an 80-yard return to the end zone.
Elizabeth Forward scored right before the half when Charles Nigut hit Sean Soukup for a 29-yard pass on a halfback option with 18.4 seconds remaining.
The Warriors scored twice in the third quarter. John Dinapoli plowed into the end zone on a two-yard run and Boyd scored on a 16-yard pass from White.
Boyd capped the scoring just 21 seconds into the fourth quarter on a 63-yard pass from White.
White completed five passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns. Boyd caught four passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Davontay Brownfield led all rushers with 123 yards on 15 carries.
Govern completed five passes for 74 yards and one touchdown, all to Bloom. He also had two interceptions and led the Scotties with 47 yards rushing and caught one pass for 29 yards.