Jones, Spartans overpower Jeannette
Laurel (38) vs. Jeannette (26)
Written: Sep 11, 2010
 By JOE SAGER
ncsports@ncnewsonline.com
When the guys in green get mean, watch out.
Laurel High overwhelmed Jeannette in the second half of last night’s nonconference game. The hosts erased a 13-point deficit en route to a thrilling 38-26 triumph at Spartan Stadium.
The Spartans’ offensive line manhandled the Jayhawks. Laurel (1-1) racked up 338 yards on the ground. Dylan Jones tallied 227 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries to spark the locals.
“That’s all my linemen — Patrick Young, Tyler Kirkwood, Ryan Hites, Steve Jones, Kaleb Kingston and Dylan Ritchie — who switched in and out,” Jones said. “The other running backs, Cody Montgomery and Billy Morrison, did a great job, too.
“Our wideouts, Kyle Richeal, Jason DeRosa and freshman Josh Dando all made plays. It was a great win. We really needed that win. It was exciting.
“We always believe that we are a second-half team and that we never get down; we just have to keep each other up. When someone makes a mistake, you don’t yell; you just pick them back up.”
Jeannette’s athleticism caused a couple of Laurel mistakes. The Jayhawks had several big plays, including a 41-yard touchdown pass and a 52-yard TD scamper. However, the Spartans regrouped and kept running the ball right at the Jayhawks (1-1), who seemed to tire in the second half, while Laurel got stronger.
“I attribute that to our conditioning. We run, run, run every practice. We think that’s the key,” Laurel coach Jerry Holzhauser said. “If we don’t get the offensive or defensive schemes in, we always make sure that we have some really creative conditioning. I think it paid off; it really did.”
Brandon Ritchie’s 1-yard TD run and Young’s recovery in the end zone of Hites’ blocked punt kept Laurel’s halftime deficit at 18-13. Jordan Edmunds broke free for a 52-yard TD run early in the third to give the guests a 26-13 edge.
From that point, the Spartans took over. Jones scored from the 1 to cut the margin to 26-19. His interception set up another touchdown as Ritchie plunged in from the 1 with 1:55 left in the third quarter. A blocked PAT kick preserved Jeannette’s lead at 26-25.
However, Laurel went ahead for good on two long Jones touchdown runs.
The first capped a 99-yard drive. Jones ended the impressive march when he broke through the Jeannette defense, spun past a couple of defenders and powered past another Jayhawk — who was clinging to his jersey — for a 40-yard scamper.
“That may have been the conditioning part of it. Our kids were excited; they felt confident they could move the ball on the ground. We weren’t fancy, that’s for sure,” Holzhauser said. “I think there were some good collisions out there by our people. Dylan had some great holes to run through, and they were nice runs. He’s a heck of a running back.”
That paydirt scamper put the hosts up 31-26 with 3:09 remaining. Jeannette seemed poised to embark on a go-ahead scoring drive. However, Jones and Dando crushed receiver Chad Foster as soon as he hauled in a third-down pass. The ball came loose and Hites pounced on it to give the Spartans the ball at the Jeannette 42 with 1:35 on the clock.
“You always worry because any of these teams have such skilled athletes that any play can be a score. To keep the kids focused until the last second of the game — coaches have to do that,” Holzhauser said. “Our coaches were reminding the players continually that any play could be a score. So, I credit them.”
Holzhauser’s troops produced more highlight-reel material on the next play as Jones soared through Jayhawks’ defense for a 42-yard TD run.
“I was just waiting for the hole to open up and I got it,” he said. “That really took a lot of pressure off us.”
The Spartans did not attempt a pass in the second half. Instead, they entrusted Jones (227 yards), Ritchie (42), Morrison (39) and Montgomery (30) to carry the ball behind their powerful offensive line.
“Our line was excited about this win. We expected them to be more physical,” Holzhauser said. “That wasn’t an easy front to block; it wasn’t. They met the challenge well. I think, up front, we did a real nice job.”
The victory was an uplifting one for Laurel, which began its season with a 31-6 loss to Aliquippa. The Spartans face another tough opponent next week when they return to Midwestern Conference action at Beaver Falls.
“It is a boost. Sometimes, kids hear people are from this school or that school and there are legendary school districts and how great their programs are, but they’re still teenage kids and I think they realize we can play,” Holzhauser said.
“They found themselves, we hope. But next week is a great challenge. That’s a very good football team in Beaver Falls. It’s not like you can ever let down and they are already excited about practice. That’s a good thing.”
JEANNETTE LAUREL
12 First downs 21
215 Yards Rushing 354
29 Yards Lost 16
186 Net Rushing 338
19 Passes Attempted 3
12 Passes Completed 2
1 Passes Intercepted 1
142 Yards Passing 9
328 Total Yards 347
7-1 Fumbles-Lost 2-0
3-46.0 Punts-Average 3-37.7
6-32 Penalties-Yards 4-35
JEANNETTE 6 12 8 0 — 26
LAUREL 0 13 12 13 — 38
Scoring plays
JEANNETTE — Jordan Edmunds, 12-yard run (kick failed).
LAUREL — Brandon Ritchie, 1-yard run (Joseph Johnson kick).
JEANNETTE — Shavonta Craft, 2-yard run (pass failed).
LAUREL — Patrick Young, blocked punt recovered in end zone (run failed).
JEANNETTE — Chad Foster, 41-yard pass from Demetrious Cox (run failed).
JEANNETTE — Edmunds, 52-yard run (Foster pass from Cox).
LAUREL — Dylan Jones, 1-yard run (kick failed).
LAUREL — Ritchie, 1-yard run (kick blocked).
LAUREL — Jones, 40-yard run (run failed).
LAUREL — Jones, 42-yard run (Johnson kick).
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