Streak continues
Unbeaten Scotties ride quick start, stellar defense to 14-0 win over Vikings
ALVERTON — Southmoreland struck early and then let its defense take over.
Cam Lee returned the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown and the Scotties converted an early turnover into a 5-yard TD run by Averyon Darnell in earning a hard-fought 14-0 victory over rival Mount Pleasant at Russ Grimm Field on Friday night.
The win kept Southmoreland tied with Elizabeth Forward atop the Class 3A Interstate Conference standings at 3-0, clinched a playoff spot for the Scotties and improved first-year coach Dustin Shoaf’s record to 8-0.
Shoaf was only worried about his team’s record on this night with his one-day, one-game at a time approach
“Our kids went 1-0 tonight,” Shoaf said. “It’s hard to win football games. It’s hard to win against your rival. We’re proud of our kids.”
Southmoreland still trails the all-time series with the Vikings, 40-11, but has won the last three meetings. The Scotties are home again in Week Eight in a showdown with the Warriors (3-0, 7-1) for sole possession of first place.
Mount Pleasant (2-1, 5-3), which had its four-game winning streak halted, drops into third place and faces a key game at fourth-place Derry (1-2, 4-4) next. The top three teams in the conference get automatic playoff spots. Other teams would need to be awarded one of three WPIAL-chosen wild-card berths to get in.
Lee put the Scotties ahead to stay on the first play, bobbling the ball at the 12-yard line before breaking loose through the middle of the field then veering left and out-racing Mount Pleasant kicker Tyke Snyder down the sideline for the 88-yard score. Liam Smith’s kick made it 7-0 just 13 seconds into the game.
Three plays later Southmoreland’s Luke Stinnett forced a fumble that Jake Govern pounced on, giving the Scotties the ball at the Vikings 26.
Scotties quarterback Dawson Wolfe completed a 13-yard pass to Ty Whoric on the next play to the 13 but Southmoreland faced a fourth and 2 at the 5 four plays later. Shoaf opted to go for it and Darnell not only got the first down but powered his way into the end zone. Smith’s extra point made it 14-0 with 8:23 left in the first quarter.
Neither defense would allow another point the rest of the way in the hard-hitting clash.
“I think special teams right off the start set the tone,” Shoaf said. “That was huge. That’s momentum. Then a turnover and go in to score. It’s football, 48 minutes. We understand there are going to be ups and downs, highs and lows.”
Mount Pleasant settled in and played even with the Scotties after its shaky start but the damage was done.
“It doesn’t make it easy when you start that way for sure,” Vikings coach Jason Fazekas said. “Then you’re behind and trying to catch up. But give them credit they made some plays.”
Mount Pleasant didn’t record a first down until midway through the second quarter when it moved the sticks three times but was eventually forced to punt.
The Vikings got a three-and-out and the punt gave them the ball at the Scotties 34 with 57 seconds left in the half but Darnell intercepted Dane Firmstone’s long pass at the 1 two plays later and Southmoreland ran out the clock from there.
Mount Pleasant mounted its most serious threat of the game on its second possession of the third quarter, moving 58 yards in 16 plays while taking 7:48 off the clock. The Vikings converted two fourth-down plays on 9-yard runs by Rage Suchar and Firmstone with the latter moving the ball to a first and goal at the Southmoreland 7.
The Scotties defense stiffened and David Sager stopped Stephen Predajna for a 1-yard loss on fourth down from the 2.
“Huge,” Shoaf said of the defensive stand. “We challenged our kids. I put belief in my kids and belief in my defensive coordinator (Rich Kolesar).”
“That’s definitely one we needed there for sure,” Fazekas said.
Mount Pleasant made another push into Southmoreland territory in the fourth quarter, converting another fourth down on Firmstone’s 8-yard pass to Suchar, but Whoric ended the threat with an interception of a long pass at the Scotties 12.
Southmoreland churned out three first downs from there, forcing Mount Pleasant to burn all of its timeouts on a 12-play drive that wiped out just under five minutes off the clock.
The Vikings got the ball back at their own 24 with only 1:06 remaining and Southmoreland finished off the game with three straight tackles for losses, including two sacks.
Stanley Chapman was a standout on the defensive side for the Scotties.
“Stanley Chapman is playing lights out for us,” Shoaf said. “But it’s not just him. It takes 10 other guys to make a defense work. We’re proud of him and we’re proud of our defense to continue flying around and getting 11 hats to the ball.”
Fazekas credited Chapman also.
“That kid was all over the field,” Fazekas said. “He made I don’t know how many tackles. He was very disruptive tonight.”
Fazekas commended his own defense as well.
“Defense I thought played a really good game for us,” Fazekas said. “They gave us a chance the whole way through. We were struggling just to find a way on offense. Give them credit because they made it hard for us.”
The teams combined for just 18 first downs at nine apiece.
Southmoreland outgained Mount Pleasant with 90 rushing yards and 61 passing yards for a total of 151. The Vikings had 61 yards on the ground and 55 through the air for 116 total.
Darnell paced the Scotties with 12 carries for 57 yards. Wolfe completed 7 of 15 passes with three going to Makel Darnell for 25 yards.
Predajna led Mount Pleasant with 20 carries for 43 yards and three receptions for 19 yards. Firmstone connected on 9 of 18 passes.