×

South controls game in win

DANIELLE FIORINI/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport’s A.J. Flick looks to pass against MIlton during Friday’s game.

Friday evening at Rodney K. Morgans Stadium was a tale of two halves. From the first drive of the football game until the halftime horn rang, South Williamsport controlled the football game in every possible aspect.

By the final horn South Williamsport was able to escape with a 21-14 win after Milton’s game tying touchdown as time expired was called back due to a forward lateral.

In the first half it all was working for South Williamsport. They ate up eight minutes of the clock on their opening drive as Gannon Guerrisky plunged for 37 hard fought yards on the drive before punching in a one yard touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. On Milton’s first play from scrimmage South Williamsport’s Lane Lusk corralled in a loose fumble and took it 25 yards to the endzone. Add in Guerrisky’s 88 yard touchdown run on the next drive and no one could have forseen a last second finish in Friday’s contest.

“A lot of it is the weight room. We lift eight months, helps me prepare for the season, between that in my ability it makes for a good combo.”

Junior running back Gannon Guerrisky said reflecting on the tough touches he had Friday evening.

The second half told a different story. Things got chippy in the third quarter after a 51 yard pass from Guerrisky to Hunter Finn almost brought the two teams to blows. In the second half the teams combined for 14 penalties including seven unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a very tense high school football game. South Williamsport looked to almost take itself out of the driver’s seat as they allowed their emotions to drizzle onto the field and Milton slowly began to gain momentum to make a comeback.

“We have really prided ourselves in playing disciplined football in the eight years I’ve been here, so for us to come out and not be disciplined, that’s something that will be addressed and worked on,” South Williamsprot coach Chris Eiswerth said. “We can’t let the emotions of the game get the best of us.”

Aside from the emotions of a team fighting to make the playoffs, the Mounties were able to bring themselves back down to earth to close out a game that was necessary to hopefully confirm their playoff hopes.

“The first drive took eight minutes off the clock, and taking offensive snaps away from them is vital,” Eiswerth said. “We pride ourselves on that, the kids came through. These are tough to do, especially against AAA programs with big kids, and physical kids. They’re very talented, I know their record isn’t the best but they’ve been playing games much closer.”

South Williamsport didn’t make it easy on themselves but was able to close out a win, in a gridiron battle between two hungry teams. One playing for pride, and one playing for playoffs. As for Eiswerth, he’s proud of the performance and hopes to build off this victory.

“For us to come out and we’ve got possibly our two best players in Klem and Winner who didn’t even play. We’ve got to clean up the penalties and we’ve got to be much more disciplined but to play a school twice our size and come out with a victory it’s satisfying,” Eiswerth said. “They kept fighting. I thought defensively we played a really good game. Those guys are shifty, they played a great game. Anytime you can hold a team like that to 14 points, we’re proud of that.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today