Big plays, special teams propel Archbishop Wood to 38-7 win over Hollidaysburg
Tagged under: District 12, District 6, News
Billy Splain | November 23, 2018
Vikings get postgame talk from Head Coach Kyle Adkins
On the first play of the game, Ryan DiVergillis took the opening kick to the Hollidaysburg 40 yard line. Tom Santiago took the handoff on the first offensive play of the game and went straight to the endzone. Bob Hennessey split the uprights and the Vikings were on their way to the PIAA Class 5A semi-finals with a resounding 38-7 win over Hollidaysburg. “We sprung some big plays there early which is usually a big spark plug for our offense” said Vikings Head Coach Kyle Adkins. “I thought our defense and special teams did a great job winning their battles.” The Vikings out gained Hollidaysburg 229 yards to just 7 in the first half.
Santiago goes 40 yards on the first plays of the game. Wood up 7-0 just like that pic.twitter.com/DnIB6whgVN
— Pa Football News (@PaFootballNews) November 23, 2018
The second drive of the game for Archbishop Wood would be their longest of the game. Starting at their own 5, the Vikings again got big plays, this time from running back Chris Blackstone who had runs of 16 and 48 yards to get the Vikings in striking distance. Leroy Pendleton went in from the 2 and with the kick they had a quick 14-0 lead.
Early into the second, the Tiger defense looked to gain a slight advantage, pushing Wood on the next series and forcing a punt but the ball rolled to the Hollidaysburg one. Then disaster struck for the Tigers as the ball popped loose on the very next play. Kevin Otto pounced on the loose pigskin giving the Vikings the ball at the three yard line. Once again the Tigers defense held, forcing the Vikings to settle for a 25 yard field goal. At the 8:57 mark of the second quarter Wood held a 17-0 lead.
25 yd fg makes it 17-0 wood8:37 second pic.twitter.com/jOtWQTwfr6
— Pa Football News (@PaFootballNews) November 23, 2018
Tigers quarterback Brady Walters, who had a stellar year throwing for nearly 1,700 yards, never got going and his rhythm was constantly broken by pressure from the Wood defense. “I thought our defense especially did a good job tonight, giving us great field position” said Adkins. Once again forced to punt, Hollisdaysburg watched as DiVergills returned the ball to the Tiger 20. Several plays later Santiago went in from 3 yards out putting Wood up 24-0 with 24-0 with 6:21 left in the half. The Vikings final score of the half came on a 3 yard run by Pendleton.
“We didn’t wrap up, we knew we were going to see some different kind of speed. That first play of the game we gave up the big hole but for the most part, we didn’t make the plays we needed” said Hollidaysburg Head Coach Homer DeLattre. “Ya know, there in the second it’s only 14-0, then they get the punt that rolls to the one, we give them the ball, then they get the punt return and it’s 17-0. Then they get the punt return, just not our day.”
The Vikings capped off their scoring on a 52 yard pass from Jack Colyer to Jake Ross. Holidaysburg got on the board late when Nate Fisher crossed the goal line from 1 yard out.
Hollidaysburg ends their season at 8-5. Archbishop Wood awaits the winner of the Cathedral Prep/South Fayette game being played tonight.
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