Jake09
09-21-2009, 09:23 AM
High school football: Indians get long-awaited win
By Marion Valanoski
For The Daily Item
COAL TOWNSHIP -- Dan Foor knew he had a pretty good football team heading into the regular season. Unfortunately for him, back-to-back matchups against two of Shamokin's top rivals had the new head coach squirming and wondering when that unit would finally make its appearance, if at all.
That elusive first victory arrived Friday at Kemp Memorial Stadium with a homecoming performance that was nothing short of impressive.
With Jared Montgomery leading a rejuvenated offensive attack and Wesley Tillett spearheading the defense, the Indians battered Central Columbia on both sides of the ball en route to a convincing 34-12 Heartland Athletic Conference Division II win.
"This was a huge win for our team and one we certainly needed," Foor said. "We put those first two games behind us and have established a goal of a new season the rest of the way. Try and win the next seven games and qualify for the postseason.
"I could not even think what it would have been like if we were 0-3 at this stage."
The Indians' offense looked nothing like the one that looked lost against Southern and Mount Carmel, shooting itself in the foot with mistake after mistake. Instead, with Montgomery rushing for 91 yards and Tyler DiRienzo contributing 83, Shamokin bullied the Blue Jays' defense and gained 273 yards on the ground while Jared Haddock found his touch throwing the ball.
"We took advantage of our physical play on the offensive line," Foor said.
Montgomery gave the Indians a 6-0 lead when he capped a six-play, 50-yard drive with a 13-yard slashing run through the Blue Jays' defense for the score. Brent Forbes added the conversion kick as the opening stanza ended with the home team on top.
Both teams unleashed their offenses in the second quarter, combining for 31 points. The Blue Jays took advantage of a fumble recovery to move 87 yards to paydirt, with the big play being a 41-yard reception by Matthew Groshek to the Indians' 26. Four plays later, Matthew Faux went over from the three. A pass for two failed and the Blue Jays trailed 7-6.
Shamokin wasted little time in regaining some breathing room when Haddock found Forbes in the flat and the burly fullback raced 69 yards for the touchdown and a 13-6 lead. Central responded with a 63-yard screen pass to Ben Emmett that put the ball on the visitors' 8. Three plays later, Faux hit Kolby Fedder with a one-yard scoring toss, but the Indians stopped the conversion to keep the lead at 13-12.
The Indians tallied the next 13 points to take complete control of the contest as Montgomery scored on a two-yards run, and after Tillett recovered a fumble, Haddock executed a perfect fake into the line and scooted 22 yards for the touchdown.
"We didn't do anything fancy but ran out of the Power I all night," Foor said. "Our line blocked and our backs -- regardless of whether it was Montgomery, Forbes, DiRienzo or Haddock -- all contributed and we got positives out of the passing game."
The Indians provided all the scoring in the second half as DiRienzo ran for a five-yard touchdown and the defense was credited with a safety when a Blue Jays snap went out of the end zone.
"Our focus is on the rest of the season," Foor said. "On defense, we didn't sit but were aggressive all game and the offense moved the ball. This was a big win."
Tim Bousson had a big night on the defensive side of the ball with two interceptions.
By Marion Valanoski
For The Daily Item
COAL TOWNSHIP -- Dan Foor knew he had a pretty good football team heading into the regular season. Unfortunately for him, back-to-back matchups against two of Shamokin's top rivals had the new head coach squirming and wondering when that unit would finally make its appearance, if at all.
That elusive first victory arrived Friday at Kemp Memorial Stadium with a homecoming performance that was nothing short of impressive.
With Jared Montgomery leading a rejuvenated offensive attack and Wesley Tillett spearheading the defense, the Indians battered Central Columbia on both sides of the ball en route to a convincing 34-12 Heartland Athletic Conference Division II win.
"This was a huge win for our team and one we certainly needed," Foor said. "We put those first two games behind us and have established a goal of a new season the rest of the way. Try and win the next seven games and qualify for the postseason.
"I could not even think what it would have been like if we were 0-3 at this stage."
The Indians' offense looked nothing like the one that looked lost against Southern and Mount Carmel, shooting itself in the foot with mistake after mistake. Instead, with Montgomery rushing for 91 yards and Tyler DiRienzo contributing 83, Shamokin bullied the Blue Jays' defense and gained 273 yards on the ground while Jared Haddock found his touch throwing the ball.
"We took advantage of our physical play on the offensive line," Foor said.
Montgomery gave the Indians a 6-0 lead when he capped a six-play, 50-yard drive with a 13-yard slashing run through the Blue Jays' defense for the score. Brent Forbes added the conversion kick as the opening stanza ended with the home team on top.
Both teams unleashed their offenses in the second quarter, combining for 31 points. The Blue Jays took advantage of a fumble recovery to move 87 yards to paydirt, with the big play being a 41-yard reception by Matthew Groshek to the Indians' 26. Four plays later, Matthew Faux went over from the three. A pass for two failed and the Blue Jays trailed 7-6.
Shamokin wasted little time in regaining some breathing room when Haddock found Forbes in the flat and the burly fullback raced 69 yards for the touchdown and a 13-6 lead. Central responded with a 63-yard screen pass to Ben Emmett that put the ball on the visitors' 8. Three plays later, Faux hit Kolby Fedder with a one-yard scoring toss, but the Indians stopped the conversion to keep the lead at 13-12.
The Indians tallied the next 13 points to take complete control of the contest as Montgomery scored on a two-yards run, and after Tillett recovered a fumble, Haddock executed a perfect fake into the line and scooted 22 yards for the touchdown.
"We didn't do anything fancy but ran out of the Power I all night," Foor said. "Our line blocked and our backs -- regardless of whether it was Montgomery, Forbes, DiRienzo or Haddock -- all contributed and we got positives out of the passing game."
The Indians provided all the scoring in the second half as DiRienzo ran for a five-yard touchdown and the defense was credited with a safety when a Blue Jays snap went out of the end zone.
"Our focus is on the rest of the season," Foor said. "On defense, we didn't sit but were aggressive all game and the offense moved the ball. This was a big win."
Tim Bousson had a big night on the defensive side of the ball with two interceptions.