Spartans enjoy some ‘old-time football’
Laurel (28) vs. North Catholic (7)
Written: Sep 12, 2009
  By TODD KRISE
t_krise@ncnewsonline.com
On a night when Laurel High football celebrated its 50th anniversary, the Spartans’ offense turned back its own clock.
Laurel pounded North Catholic with inside running plays all evening to secure a convincing 28-7 win.
“It was kind of old-time football tonight,” Spartans head coach Jerry Holzhauser said. “These plays that we ran tonight were designed by the coaches that were on the field way before me back in 1959.
“It wasn’t anything fancy.”
Tyler Forbes and his trio of running backs (Caleb Weisenstein, Dylan Jones and Dan Poremski) combined for 169 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while the entire Spartans team outrushed the Trojans, 184-44 to improve to 2-0.
Laurel’s offensive line was a huge reason for the Spartans’ success on the ground. The Trojans’ defensive line recorded only two sacks and two tackles for a loss.
“We watched a lot of film on them,” Forbes said. “Their linebackers didn’t come up hard. We took advantage of all that.”
Added Holzhauser: “I was real excited by the performance of the line up front, offensively and defensively. We were pretty basic. We controlled the pace of the game.”
Forbes, who suffered a minor concussion in last week’s game against Clairton, was anything but drowsy. To go along with his 46 rushing yards, the senior quarterback connected with classmate Jake Dando from 13 yards out in the fourth quarter for the clinching touchdown.
And, oh yeah, he also recorded three interceptions on defense — the second, of which, he tipped to himself over the head of a receiver.
“I wouldn’t say it was my best game,” said Forbes, who went to three days of therapy and didn’t return to practice until Wednesday. “I was just trying my best out there. I expect every game I play to be the best of my career.”
Forbes now has four picks on the year and is halfway to tying the school record for interceptions in a season.
“It was an exceptional night on his part,” Holzhauser said. “He indicated that he would be ready to play. I just expect Tyler to play well. He’s a competitor.”
Laurel jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a Poremski 5-yard score that ended a 15-play, 86-yard drive.
The Spartans made it 14-0 on Jones’ 2-yard dive into the end zone, which came three plays after the Trojans’ first of six turnovers on the evening.
Weisenstein connected from 1 yard out to give Laurel a three-score advantage.
“They played real nice,” Forbes said of his three backfield mates.
“They ran hard,” Holzhauser agreed. “It was a lot of straight-ahead running with a good line surge ahead of them. I know they appreciate that. And they held on to the ball.”
By beating the Trojans (0-2), the Spartans have now avenged two of their losses from 2008. Last week, Laurel defeated a talented Clairton team which beat up on the Spartans 41-0 last season. Last night, Laurel took revenge for a 26-21 setback to the Trojans.
“We’re just a little more experienced,” Holzahuser said of 2009. “We have a lot of the same kids on the field as last year. They’ve just got another year under their belt.
“They’re driven kids. They work hard. They’re just getting it done because they want to get it done.”
Weisenstein gave another reason.
“I think we have a better senior leadership,” he said. “I think we’re all very close together. We’re just playing as one right now. We have a lot more seniors that are willing to step up and lead, instead of sit back and follow.”
Before last night’s game, Laurel held a pregame ceremony to commemorate the program’s 50th anniversary. Players from five different decades lined the field as the 2009 Spartans sprinted between them.
Holzhauser said there was a “special aura about the evening.” Laurel principal Mike Krol kicked off the festivities and was followed by former head coaches and booster members who have been part of the program since its inception in 1959.
“We all knew that guys had grandpas, dads and brothers coming back,” Forbes said. “We were doing it for them. They’ve showed us what Laurel football is all about.”
Last night, Forbes and his teammates returned the favor.
N. CATHOLIC LAUREL
9 First downs 13
48 Yards Rushing 212
4 Yards Lost 21
44 Net Rushing 191
24 Passes Attempted 5
13 Passes Completed 4
4 Passes Intercepted 0
135 Yards Passing 39
179 Total Yards 230
2-2 Fumbles-Lost 1-0
1-44 Punts-Average 4-39
4-25 Penalties-Yards 1-5
N. CATHOLIC 0 7 0 0 — 7
LAUREL 14 0 6 8 — 28
Scoring plays
LAUREL — Dan Poremski, 5-yard run (Jonathan Johnson kick)
LAUREL — Dylan Jones, 2-yard run (Johnson kick)
NORTH CATHOLIC — Martin Long, 7-yard run (Julian Durden kick)
LAUREL — Caleb Weisenstein, 1-yard run (kick failed)
LAUREL — Jake Dando, 13-yard pass from Tyler Forbes (Forbes run)
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