|
Published: September 29, 2007 12:50 am
Somerset wins shootout with Johnstown
BY CORY ISENBERG
The Tribune-Democrat
SOMERSET —
Somerset’s poise under pressure in the closing minutes helped the Golden Eagles preserve a wild and woolly 42-39 victory over visiting Johns-town on Friday night in a Laurel Highlands game.
“In years past, this program would have folded up their tents,” Somerset coach Steve Costea said. “These kids believe. They believe in us and in the program and they want to win. They want to turn it around for the community and everybody. There’s no head dropping. We don’t have that here anymore. We made big plays when we had to and were able to put the ball in the zone at the end.”
Somerset’s victory came despite another impressive performance by the Trojans’ Antwuan Reed, who scored five touchdowns (56 yards, 1, 66, 55, 1) and ran for 292 yards on 27 carries. Reed added another touchdown on a 23-yard pass from quarterback Shawn Lehman.
“Our defense had to contain Antwuan,” Somerset quarterback Jordan Kaufman said. “He’s a heck of a kid and had an incredible game, but we did good enough to win.
“We worked hard all week at practice. This was a tough team and a tough game. I’m just glad we didn’t give up. We really have confidence with our offense this year. We have confidence that we can move the ball down the field.”
After playing catch-up most of the game, Johnstown took its first lead with 1:09 left, putting together six plays, all Reed runs, capped by a 1-yard scamper. Jon Maurizio’s extra point kick put Johnstown ahead 39-34.
Somerset (3-2) came right back, as Josh Walters returned the kickoff to the Johnstown 36.
On the second play from scrimmage, Kaufman connected with Kyle Miller in the left side of the end zone for a touchdown with 46 seconds left.
Kaufman then hooked up with Garrett Breen for the conversion, giving Somerset the three-point cushion.
The Trojans (3-2) had one last march, but with no timeouts remaining, ran out of time.
“It was a great high school football game,” Johnstown coach Kevin Marabito said. “It was a shame a team had to lose. Somerset played a great football game. Our kids kept battling back. I’m very proud of what we did. My hat’s off to Somerset, they got the job done in the last 40 seconds or so and our kids didn’t quit. That’s all you can ask of them. We are a threat to break it at any time and if we had 10 more seconds, it might have been a difference.”
Somerset’s offense accounted for 301 yards on the ground with Vince Corden leading the way (six carries for 93 yards). Kaufman added 78 yards on 12 carries and Bryce Marker had 67 yards on seven runs.
Chase Dykstra scored a pair of Somerset touchdowns in the first quarter sandwiched around Reed’s first touchdown run for a 14-7 lead.
In the second, Josh Walters scored on a 13-yard pass from Kaufman and Reed added another touchdown as Johnstown trailed 21-13 at the half.
On Johnstown’s first possession of the second half, the Trojans capped a four-play drive with a 66-yard Reed dash down the right sideline, but missed the conversion pass to pull within 21-19.
In a stretch of the third quarter, their were three scores in 20 seconds, a Walters 2-yard run, a Reed 55-yard touchdown and Corden scoring on a 90-yard kickoff return for a 34-25 Eagles lead heading into the fourth.
“Our offense picked it up,” Kaufman said. “We made plays when we had to.”
Somerset will take on Richland next week while the Trojans face Bishop Carroll.
“We started with attitude and got the attitude rolling,” Costea said. “Now, you’ve got to have heart to play this game and we’re just not giving up.”
• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
|
|
 |
Custodial Substitutes
DAY-TO-DAY CUSTODIAL SUBSTITUTES Admiral Peary AVTS is looking for day-to-day custodial substitutes to ha...>MORE
ARBY’S NOW INTERVIEWING FOR NEW TEAM MEMBERS
ARBY’S NOW INTERVIEWING FOR NEW TEAM MEMBERS! Flexible Sched. No exp. necessary. We will train. If you have experie...>MORE
Cleaning Positions
CLEANING POSITIONS: P/T for businesses in Johnstown & Ebensburg areas. $7.50 per hour. Call 814-471-2899....>MORE
Customer Service Rep
CUSTOMER SERVICE REP Like sales? Filing? Typing? Phone Work? Great pay, bonus, benefits. Bring resume. Apply in...>MORE
Manufacturing Engineer
Manufacturing ENGINEER Cookson Electronics, a world leader in the development, manufacturing, an...>MORE
Masons
MASONS 3 years min. exper. with references & transportation. Full time, vacation, holidays, 401K, Medical. Competit...>MORE
INTERMEDIA POSITIONS
LOOKING TO EARN SOME EXTRA $$$? Call InterMedi@ Marketing Solutions. 1-800-520-4100...>MORE
OPENING FOR BAKER
OPENING FOR BAKER, willing to produce with pride in your work. Call for appointment 814-242-0895, 9am-6pm...>MORE
TEMPORARY AND SUBSTITUTE CLEANERS
TEMPORARY AND SUBSTITUTE CLEANERS
Must be Act 34, Act 151, and Act 114 certifiable. Full tim...>MORE
ASSOCIATES
PANERA BREAD
COMING SOON JOHNSTOWN
NOW HIRING ASSOCIATES
If you have an outgo...>MORE
See all ads |
JOHNSTOWN YARD SALE 9 AM-2 PM, Sat., Aug. 23, 2008, 614 Hystone Ave. Multi-family. Woman’s/men’s clothes/shoes - assorte...>MORE
RICHLAND LARGE MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE 193 Mayluth Rd., Fri. & Sat., 9 am to 2 pm, Lots of men’s and women’s c...>MORE
See all ads |
RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
RICHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT
Clean, ready to move into, 4 bedrooms - 2 up, 2 down, laundry room on main floor, 2 ...>MORE
See all ads |
Discussion Group $100 cash paid for participation in a 4-hour discussion group. LFK is seeking participants from Ca...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|