Rams’ pre-half explosion sinks ’Cats
Shenango (7) vs. Rochester (42)
Written: Oct 04, 2010
By DAN IRWIN
New Castle News
There’s just one bad thing about pushing Rochester High.
The Rams push back.
Shenango found that out when it hosted Rochester on Saturday night. After spotting the Rams a two-touchdown lead, the Wildcats cut the deficit to six points late in the second quarter.
Rochester answered, though, with three touchdowns in the final 2:07 of the half — including two in a 14-second span — to reclaim control and cruise to a 42-7 win in Big Seven Conference action.
The Rams (3-0 conference, 5-0 overall) went up 13-0 on first-quarter touchdown runs by Devon Glass (8 yards) and Deandre Moon (9 yards).
Glass, though, coughed the ball up at the Rochester 43 in the second-quarter, and Shenango (1-2, 2-3) scored eight plays later on a 7-yard pass from Tynen Greer to Joe Seaburn with 3:07 remaining in the half.
It was a one-score game — for exactly 60 seconds.
Jasson Adamson returned the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Shenango 29, and Deandre Moon ran 22 yards to pay dirt on second down, scoring with 2:07 showing.
Greer then threw an interception on the first play of the ’Cats’ next possession, giving Rochester the ball at the Shenango 8. Adamson covered that distance on first down, just 14 ticks after Moon had scored.
The Rams finished things off on the final play of the quarter with Adamson and Kaylan Kenney connecting on a 55-yard touchdown strike.
Rochester coach Eugene Matsook, a one-time football and basketball star for Shenango, said he wasn’t concerned when the Wildcats sliced the Rams’ early lead in half.
“No, because last week against Sto-Rox, our kids responded very well when they were down seven,” he said. “They’re a very poised group of kids. I’m pleased with that, and we responded very well. They had the momentum, we took it right back off them.
“If they hold us on downs and get the ball, we’ve got a whole different ballgame.”
No doubt, Shenango head coach Ryan Mayo was proud that his team stood toe-to-toe with the Rams for most of the first half, but he knows that “most” isn’t enough.
“You know you’ve got to play the entire football game against Rochester,” he said. “You let up for one second, and that’s what they do, they put an onslaught on you.
“Unfortunately, it happened to us the last few minutes of the half.”
Rochester scored one final time on a 2-yard Nick Tapia run with 11 seconds left in the third quarter. The final stanza then was played under the mercy rule.
Despite the lopsided setback, there were bright spots for the ’Cats.
A holding call and a motion penalty helped stall a 13-play drive early in the second quarter. The Wildcats ended up punting, but picked themselves up and scored on their next series following Glass’ fumble.
Moreover, despite the pre-halftime blitz that might have deflated most teams, the ’Cats came out swinging after intermission. Joe Seaburn’s interception gave them the ball at midfield, and Shenango drove 45 yards in 11 plays before turning it over on downs at the Rams’ 6.
“You could definitely see glimpses of really positive stuff,” Mayo said. “We moved the ball well against a very good defense that doesn’t give up many rushing yards (Shenango tallied 147).
“I think that tells you that we can do it, but at times they caught us with their speed.”
Matsook agrees.
“Shenango’s a good football team, don’t take anything away from them,” he said. “They were big and strong up front and they’ve got some running backs that run very well.
“Ryan and his staff did a great job of getting these kids prepared.”
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ROCHESTER SHENANGO
16 First downs 11
274 Yards Rushing 156
9 Yards Lost 9
265 Net Rushing 147
7 Passes Attempted 12
4 Passes Completed 4
1 Passes Intercepted 1
150 Yards Passing 43
415 Total Yards 190
3-1 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
0-0 Punts-Average 4-15.8
8-68 Penalties-Yards 4-25
ROCHESTER 13 22 7 0 — 42
SHENANGO 0 7 0 0 — 7
Scoring plays
ROCHESTER — Devon Glass, 8-yard run (Jonathan Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Deandre Moon, 9-yard run (Kick failed).
SHENANGO — Joe Seaburn, 7-yard pass from Tynen Greer (Ronald Davis kick).
ROCHESTER — Moon, 22-yard run (Glass, pass from Jasson Adamson).
ROCHESTER — Adamson, 8-yard run (Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Kaylan Kenney, 55-yard pass from Adamson (Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Nick Tapia, 2-yard run (Johnson kick).
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