Shenango rolls past Avella
Shenango (47) vs. Avella (16)
Written: Sep 05, 2011
  By DAN IRWIN
d_irwin@ncnewsonline.com
How many dilemmas can you have if you’re up by five touchdowns at the half?
When you’re a head coach, there’s always something.
For Shenango skipper Ryan Mayo, whose team opened its season Saturday night with a 47-16 nonleague romp over Avella, even a 35-0 halftime lead posed a challenge.
A week earlier, the Wildcats had canceled their final preseason scrimmage because of health issues, leaving them a little behind in their preparations. So, with the entire second half to be played under the mercy rule, do you send the starters back out for more work, or empty the bench to get the reserves some game experience?
“We had some debate about that at halftime,” Mayo said. “Our conditioning’s behind and just in terms of game experience, we’re behind. We’re playing five or six sophomores, so they need game experience, too.
“But at the same time, the most important thing is your health. So we chose to substitute pretty freely there in the second half (the second-team offense started the third quarter) and keep everybody healthy. Bottom line is, we won and we’re healthy, and we’ll take that anytime we can get it.”
That’s at least two moves of Mayo’s that have paid off. The other he made last season when he plucked Avery Pears from the offensive line and put him in the backfield.
Pears’ 2010 role primarily was blocking, as he carried just seven times for 77 yards. Against Avella, though, he nearly equaled his entire rushing output of a year ago, rolling up 74 yards on four carries, including touchdown romps of 29 and 40 yards.
“It feels incredible to be able to run a ball and just run down the field. It’s a lot different,” the 6-foot, 205-pound senior said. “I love hitting people, that’s what I do; hitting people and knock them over.
“But when I get that open green, it’s amazing. It’s so exciting, I just go.”
Overall, Shenango amassed 300 yards rushing by committee. Joining Pears among the leaders were Anthony Prestopine, who carried five times for 65 yards; Tynen Greer, six times for 54 yards; and Joe Seaburn, 52 yards on five carries. Each ran for one touchdown, as did Dom Caldararo and Nick Dombeck.
“We’re going to spread the carries around evenly, and hopefully strike a good run-pass balance as well,” Mayo said. “Avery is a capable runner, no doubt about it. We know he’s a capable blocker, but I think he’ll show he can run as well this year.”
Defensively, Shenango’s new 4-3 look also proved to be a success in its first time out, limiting the Eagles to just 105 yards total offense.
“That’s our theme this year,” Mayo said. “If we’re going to break out of this cycle of mediocrity, we’re going to do it with defense. We made some changes defensively in terms of schemes and in terms of our personnel.
“We’re trying to get our 11 fastest guys on the field and be a little more aggressive.”
*****
AVELLA SHEN.
6 First downs 18
85 Yards Rushing 310
31 Yards Lost 10
54 Net Rushing 300
12 Passes Attempted 6
7 Passes Completed 3
1 Passes Intercepted 1
51 Yards Passing 40
105 Total Yards 340
2-1 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
5-22.6 Punts-Average 1-18
6-52 Penalties-Yards 3-30
AVELLA 0 0 0 16 — 16
SHENANGO 14 21 12 0 — 47
Scoring plays
SHENANGO — Joe Seaburn, 2-yard run (Ronald Davis kick).
SHENANGO — Avery Pears, 29-yard run (Davis kick).
SHENANGO — Pears, 40-yard run (Davis kick).
SHENANGO — Tynen Greer, 13-yard run (Davis kick).
SHENANGO — Dom Caldararo, 13-yard run (Davis kick).
SHENANGO — Nick Dombeck, 4-yard run (Kick failed).
SHENANGO — Anthony Prestopine, 36-yard run (Kick failed).
AVELLA — Jake Temple 2-yard run (Brandon Miller run).
AVELLA — Nathan Davis 17-yard pass from Miller (Temple run).
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