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Mounties dominate Defenders and win in their homecoming

KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/For The Sun-Gazette Warrior Run's Denver Beachel tries to break up a pass intended for South Williamsport's Hunter Finn.

South Williamsport lined up on its own 36 yard line. Gideon Green took the hand off straight up the middle, bounced out to the near sideline, then cut back to the far pylon for a 64-yard touchdown on just his fourth carry on the night.

A handful of Warrior Run Defenders had Green stopped along his route to the end zone, but could not bring down the 260-pound running back. That play perfectly summed up South’s dominant performance in a 55-22 win over the Defenders in Rodney K. Morgan Stadium Friday.

Warrior Run’s undersized speedster group was unmatched to play the massive physicality the Mounties display between the hashmarks. South’s size and experience made it tough for Warrior Run to find any momentum until the end of the first quarter.

“The kids have been playing really well this year.” South coach Chris Eiswerth said after the game. “These guys have worked so hard during the week.”

The Mounties got their Homecoming game started with two quick offensive drives to go up 14-0 in five minutes of game time. Their first drive went seven plays and covered 64 yards, capped by AJ Flick’s pass to Hunter Finn for a 26 yards.

Warrior Run came out swinging in its first play as Gage Anzulavich hit Denver Beachel for a 15-yard pass, but settled for a three and out where Green’s 64 yard play deflated any Warrior Run hope. After that play, South had its way with the football and Warrior Run was scrambling to find ways to stop South Williamsport, which added a third trip to the end zone on its third series from Flick’s 25 yard pass to Chevy Bolay nine minutes in to the game.

Warrior Run found the end zone to close out the first quarter as Anzulavich hit Riley Daubert on a 10-yard slant and Daubert’s shiftiness helped shed tackles on a 16 yard run after catch to put life back in the Defenders.

“We gave absolutely everything we had tonight, they were just bigger and better than us.” Anzulavich said, “We will look to gain from the positives from tonight.”

The Defenders had opportunities throughout the game with long drives, but South’s defense eventually tightened up, not letting Anzulavich much time to find open receivers down field.

“We are trying to be a little more diverse and keep some pressure off of (Green). Flick has some nice receivers to throw the ball well, he’s protecting the ball well.” Eiswerth said.

South had just ten pass plays in the game, but were effective with those ten plays, seven kept drives alive and three resulted in touchdowns. All pressure was off of Green as he and other South starters came off of the field after Flick hit a wide open Cole Lentz seven minutes into the third quarter which put the Mounties out front, 42-7.

“Those guy were able to do their job tonight.” Eiswerth said, “And it was nice to mix in some of the rest of our team and have them involved when they work just as hard as well.”

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