Spartans run all over OLSH
Laurel (24) vs. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (13)
Written: Sep 15, 2012
By Joe Sager
New Castle News
Josh Dando’s throwing arm might be sore today.
But it’s not from passing the ball deep downfield last night.
Rather, it might feel a little strained from lifting himself off the ground and helping hoist Laurel High’s other runners off the muddy grass in Laurel’s 24-13 home win over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in a WPIAL Class A Big Seven Conference showdown.
The junior quarterback attempted just two passes, but didn’t need to air it out more. He and the Spartans (2-1 conference and overall) did their damage on the ground. Laurel racked up 223 yards rushing to put away the Chargers (1-2).
“Our plan was to run the ball and we did that,” Dando said. “Our line did a good job, every single one of them.”
Dando led the charge as he tallied 80 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Sophomore Matty Conway added 76 yards and a TD on 19 carries, while junior Dalton Rosta finished with 72 yards on 18 totes.
“Those two are some of the hardest runners I know,” Dando said.
The Spartans plowed through Sacred Heart all night, thanks to their ability to gain an early lead.
After a Chargers 24-yard punt set Laurel up in great field position on its first possession of the evening, the hosts methodically churned their way 42 yards down the field. Dando knifed his way five yards into the end zone for a 7-0 lead in the first.
Cody Clem’s fumble recovery helped set up the Spartans’ next score. Laurel took over on the Sacred Heart 26 and Dando’s eight-yard run made it a 14-0 game early in the second.
The Chargers responded with Isiah Neely’s 19-yard TD run to trim the deficit to 14-7 at halftime.
Rosta’s 15-yard run on fourth down helped extend the Spartans’ first drive of the second half. They settled for Noah Wertz’s 21-yard field goal, which boosted the advantage to 17-7.
On Sacred Heart’s next possession, Chris Peluso intercepted a pass and returned it to the Chargers’ 14. Conway promptly marched into the end zone on the next play for the 24-7 lead.
It was Laurel’s second TD of the night set up by a turnover.
“We tried to get our guys fired up,” Dando said. “When those kinds of plays happen, you just have to get up and go.”
Sacred Heart added a touchdown in the final two minutes as the Spartans held on for the win.
“They are a good football team,” Laurel coach Jerry Holzhauser said. “I am proud of our kids. We have some adversity and the kids played hard. I am real proud of them.
“The kids are coming of age, I think. I think we have five or six sophomores out there and they are learning play as veterans and that’s a good thing.”
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
SACRED HEART LAUREL
9 First downs 16
111 Yards Rushing 243
13 Yards Lost 20
98 Net Rushing 223
14 Passes Attempted 2
5 Passes Completed 0
2 Passes Intercepted 1
61 Yards Passing 0
159 Total Yards 223
4-1 Fumbles-Lost 6-1
4-33.2 Punts-Average 1-44
8-67 Penalties-Yards 5-35
SACRED HEART 0 7 0 6—13
LAUREL 7 7 10 0 — 24
Scoring plays
LAUREL — Josh Dando, 5-yard run (Noah Wertz kick)
LAUREL — Dando, 8-yard run (Wertz kick)
OLSH — Isiah Neely, 19-yard run (Adam LaCaria kick)
LAUREL — Wertz, 21-yard field goal
LAUREL — Matty Conway, 14-yard run (Wertz kick)
OLSH — Zack Woznichak, 19-yard pass from Joey Sebes (kick blocked)
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