Hughesville at Bloomsburg preview
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Hughesville PPG--10.0, PPA--24.2; YPG--154.3, YPA--257.7
Hughesville notes: Hughesville (2-4) has turned things around with two straight victories in which it has allowed just 13 points. The Spartans have controlled the second half each time and scored 12 points in the final eight minutes to erase a fourth quarter deficit in last week's 22-13 win against Midd-West. Chase Shrawder averages 11 tackles per game and Jerry Barton is second among area players with 18 tackles for loss. Linebacker Maliki Emmil also is having a strong season, producing 8.2 tackles per game, seven for loss, and adding an interception. Carter Gordner has picked off two passes and Colton Woolever has five tackles for loss. Levi Green intercepted a pass against Midd-West. Connor Anstadt has caught Nick Stubbs touchdown passes in consecutive games. He also is having another all-state caliber punting season, averaging 49.6 yards per kick and placing 13 of his 32 punts inside the 20-yard line. He also has kicked two field goals. Stubbs has produced three touchdowns the past two weeks, throwing two and running for another. Shrawder ran for a career-high 129 yards and two scores against Midd-West. Hughesville has moved to seventh in the District 4 Class AA standings and has the potential to move higher if it can win a few more games these final four weeks.
Hughesville player to watch--Alphonzo Smith: The senior defensive end is having a strong season and is second on the team, averaging 9.2 tackles per game. He has at least six tackles in every game and had an interception and fumble recovery in the shutout win at Northwest. Smith made a career-high 15 tackles in that game, including eight solos. He then added 12 more tackles against Midd-West.
Bloomsburg PPG--35.5, PPA--15.7; YPG--423, YPA--240.7
Bloomsburg notes: The undefeated Panthers (6-0) are ranked No. 9 in the state’s 2A rankings and are trying to hold off defending state champion Southern Columbia for the postseason’s top seed. Bloomsburg features an explosive offense and is second among District 4 teams in yards per game. Quarterback Shane Frey is having a super season and totaled 400 yards in last week’s win at Central Columbia. Frey threw for 336 yards, going over 1,000 yards in his first year starting. Jharee Moore-Stewart and Julius Serrano form an explosive tandem and both went over 140 yards in last week’s win. Each has a shot at 1,000-yard seasons and the duo has combined for 984 yards and 14 touchdowns, while also scoring as ball-carriers. In fact, Moore-Stewart has totaled 787 yards. The junior has scored touchdowns six ways during his first three seasons. Serrano returned an interception for a touchdown in last year’s 35-0 win at Hughesville. Zane Thomas averages nine tackles per game and Frey has two interceptions.
Bloomsburg player to watch--Marshall Tagba: Building off an impressive freshman season, Tagba is second on the team in tackles, averaging eight per game. The defensive tackle was all over the field against Central, being in on 15 tackles. He also has four tackles for loss and a sack.
Outlook: Hughesville has been a second-half team the last two weeks. To have any shot tonight, it has to be a four-quarter team. A slow start here and the Spartans are in trouble.