CATAWISSA- Southern Columbia improved to 5–1 on Friday night as they defeated a strong,young Hughesville Spartan team(2–4) by a score of 38-14.
Things looked rough early for the Spartans as, after receiving the opening kick-off, their first play on offense was a pass that got intercepted by Southern's Colby Snyder. However, the Tigers' offense could not fully capitalize on the turnover which gave them the ball on Hughesville's 33 yard-line. After four plays the drive stalled at the 14 where they settled for a 31 yard field goal on the foot of Bryan Snyder.
On Hughesville's next possession they were determined to control the ball and put together a 13 play drive, netting 57 yards, but were unable to score. Southern took over on downs at their own 19. Two plays later a fumbled handoff during a reverse was scooped up by Ammon Swisher and carried 16 yards to the end-zone. A blocked PAT (by Sam Springer) gave the Spartans a 6 – 3 lead with 2:05 left in the first quarter.
Southern's running backs moved the ball well on the next series, but several holding calls and a sack pinned them back on a 3rd & long at their own 15. Ted Hietzman's 18 yard screen pass to a srambling Steve Roth was short of a first down and forced a punt.
Then the Tiger defense took over... On 2nd & 8, defensive end, Brent Rosenbaum, pressured Kyle Stubbs to throw an errant pass which was picked-off by Springer and run 30+ yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Bryan Snyder's PAT gave them a 10 – 6 lead early in the second quarter.
From that point the SCA defense continued to hold strong, and the offense scored on four consecutive drives to seal the victory. Only a fumble would stop their final drive of the night, late in the fourth.
Andrew Wimble scored the first offensive touchdown on a 26-yard burst to make it 17 -6 with 2:51 left in the 1st half.
Then Steve Roth broke loose for 35 yards on a draw play before Hietzman gained 16 to the 3 on a bootleg run. Roth took it in from there.
Next it was time for Colby Snyder to shine on offense as he hauled in two passes, including a sliding grab for a 28-yard touchdown. Austin Carpenter showed that he is regaining his moves (after knee surgery) on that drive as well on a 13-yard reverse.
Wimble scored Southern's final touchdown on a 17 yard run which capped a 5 play, 73 yard drive. Heitzman, Roth, and Carpenter all had rushes for long gains on that drive.
Hughesville managed another score, on a time-consuming drive, when Blain Johnson broke free fom the 33 yard-line of SCA.
Hughesville(4-2) hosts a dangerous Bloomsburg(5-1) team next Friday.
Southern cannot afford another slow start next week, as they host undefeated Loyalsock(6-0). However, the Tigers look forward to having 2-way starter Justin Knoebel back in the line-up and the continuing improvement of the offensive backfield. This will possibly be the toughest test for both of these teams this season, as the Lancers are on a roll but have never beaten the Tigers in their 14 meetings.
