G-A controls Patriots
The Greencastle-Antrim Blue Devils took the opportunity of their last regular season home game to show yet another formidable side to its undefeated season during a 48-14 lashing of non-divisional Red Land. Not only did the offense rack up a season-high 447 yards, half of which came uncharacteristically through the air, but the defense pitched a scoreless second half to seal the deal against the Mid-Penn Conference foe.
While the Blue Devils (6-0, 3-0) always had a grip on this contest, Red Land did put some pressure on with scores early and late in the second quarter. G-A took control in the second half. For the game Red Land had just 15 rushing yards.
An 80-yard drive set the tone for the Devils and started Devin Schaeffer on route to a 100 yard-plus rushing night with a 30-yard touchdown run just 3:39 into the game. The Patriots muddied their waters quickly. A sack by Broc Shives and Denton Ensminger for a seven-yard loss and a fumble recovered by G-A’s Josh Short gave the home team a golden opportunity at the Red Land 13. G-A cashed in as Brett Meyers began the biggest night of his high school passing career with a 13-yard strike to Short. G-A was up 14-0 on Nathan Pool’s PAT kicks.
While Red Land found some success in the air, the Devil offense never missed a beat. The next Blue Devil drive came up just short, but Christian Hoover finished it off with a 42-yard field goal. A key defensive play by Cody Ezolt, a sack, set the Devils up well again. A 60-yard drive ensued, finished off with a one-yard plunge from Tyler Szaflarski.
The Patriots again used their passing game to score with under a minute left in the half. G-A grabbed the momentum back quickly with a drive mostly through the air that Brandon Trefelner completed with a 15-yard grab for a TD and G-A went to the lockerroom up 31-14 on Pool’s kick.
After getting 170 yards passing in the first half, Red Land was limited to just 11 in the second as G-A sailed. Second-half scoring included another Hoover field goal, this one for 23 yards, and rushing scores from Jake Statler and Szaflarski. Pool was perfect six-for-six on extra points for the night.
Schaeffer finished with 135 yards on 16 carries and had 66 yards on two receptions. Szaflarski added 62 on 13 totes. Meyers was 13-of-20 in the passing department for 181 yards. Trefelner was a prime target with six catches for 114 yards.
G-A will look to extend its unbeaten season and hand Susquehanna Township its second straight loss Friday at the Indian’s stadium. Township went to 5-1 last week with a 36-32 loss to Chambersburg after being up 29-7 at the half. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
