Solanco holds off Shippensburg’s rally advancing to the District Semi-finals

Tagged under: District 3, Gameday Hub, News, Playoffs

Carl Frederick | November 13, 2022

It may not have been the finished they would have wanted, but Solanco behind Josiah Forren’s monster evening held off Shippensburg 42-35. “I did not like the way we finished” Forren said “Happy we won but not happy with how we finished”. The Golden Mules remain a perfect 11-0 on the year as they will welcome Cocalico for a rematch next Friday.

Forren and company had control early, after holding the Greyhounds on an opening drive turnover on downs, the Mules began to work. Behind Senior Brody Mellinger the home squad took an opening 16 play drive for 6, when the Quarterback plunged in from the 6-yard line for the score. After 1 quarter the score remained 7-0, but Mellinger quickly added his second rushing touchdown this time from the 10, giving Solanco a 14-0 lead.

The Mule’s defense was on point in the first half shutting down the Greyhounds on multiple occasions, after a long Forren run, Mellinger would add his third score of the half with a 5-yard scamper (21-0). On the ensuing possession Shippensburg had a costly fumble and Solanco was back in business. 3 plays later that man Josiah Forren again would finish things off going up the middle for a 6-yard score (28-0). Momentum started to slowly shift to the visiting Shippensburg squad as Quarterback Tucker Chamberlain took the quarterback draw from the 2 to put the Greyhounds on the board late in the half (28-7).

The third quarter started with more of the same for the Mules, after Forren nearly took the kickoff for a score, capped things off with a 19-yard Jet sweep, giving Solanco a 35-7 lead early third quarter. What changed after this possession was that Shippensburg’s high potent offense came to life, Senior Trae Kater answered with his first touchdown on the night from the 3 (35-14).

Shippensburg rally did not stop as they caught Solanco off guard with the ensuing onside kick and had the ball deep in Mule’s territory. It was a play that didn’t necessarily surprise Coach Cox’s team “we practiced all week that onside stuff, telling our guys not to move until the ball is kicked” Coach Cox said.  It was all the Greyhounds needed with Kater adding his second score on the night this time from the 13 yard line making it 35-21 Solanco late in the third quarter.

Solanco behind their triple-option answered the next possession with Senior Fullback Cole Harris capping it off for his first and only score on the evening (42-21).  Just when it appeared the Mules could start celebrating Chamberlain hit his brother Troy Chamberlain streaking down the sideline for a 48 yard touchdown pass. This left the score 42-28 Solanco and on their next possession which bled the fourth quarter clock, saw the Mules turn the ball over on downs at the Shippensburg 8.

Chamberlain would quickly work Shippensburg down the field, hitting on 3 big pass plays and hit Kater (third score on the night) on a 5-yard slant for the touchdown. With 3:25 left the Greyhounds had cut this once insurmountable lead to 42-35.

The visitors were unable to have one more possession as Solanco behind a big run again by Forren (176 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns) sealed the deal and ran off the clock. The Golden Mules were able to hold homefield and advance to the district 3 5A semi-finals. “It feels great, it was our get back from Freshman year (referring to Shippensburg previously beaten them in the playoffs” Forren said “Not the finish we want, we will need to be ready for Cocalico as they play a similar style to us”.

Solanco will welcome 12^th seed Cocalico next Friday night, they faced off back in week 2 with the Mules coming out on top 21-7, Coach Cox knows the challenge they have next week “Its gonna be a battle, its gonna be a chess team” Coach replied “Bryan (Cocalico HC Bryan Strohl) does a great job with them, our Seniors will have to step up.”

It may not have been the finished they would have wanted, but Solanco behind Josiah Forren’s monster evening held off Shippensburg 42-35. “I did not like the way we finished” Forren said “Happy we won but not happy with how we finished”. The Golden Mules remain a perfect 11-0 on the year as they will welcome Cocalico for a rematch next Friday.

Forren and company had control early, after holding the Greyhounds on an opening drive turnover on downs, the Mules began to work. Behind Senior Brody Mellinger the home squad took an opening 16 play drive for 6, when the Quarterback plunged in from the 6-yard line for the score. After 1 quarter the score remained 7-0, but Mellinger quickly added his second rushing touchdown this time from the 10, giving Solanco a 14-0 lead.

The Mule’s defense was on point in the first half shutting down the Greyhounds on multiple occasions, after a long Forren run, Mellinger would add his third score of the half with a 5-yard scamper (21-0). On the ensuing possession Shippensburg had a costly fumble and Solanco was back in business. 3 plays later that man Josiah Forren again would finish things off going up the middle for a 6-yard score (28-0). Momentum started to slowly shift to the visiting Shippensburg squad as Quarterback Tucker Chamberlain took the quarterback draw from the 2 to put the Greyhounds on the board late in the half (28-7).

The third quarter started with more of the same for the Mules, after Forren nearly took the kickoff for a score, capped things off with a 19-yard Jet sweep, giving Solanco a 35-7 lead early third quarter. What changed after this possession was that Shippensburg’s high potent offense came to life, Senior Trae Kater answered with his first touchdown on the night from the 3 (35-14).

Shippensburg rally did not stop as they caught Solanco off guard with the ensuing onside kick and had the ball deep in Mule’s territory. It was a play that didn’t necessarily surprise Coach Cox’s team “we practiced all week that onside stuff, telling our guys not to move until the ball is kicked” Coach Cox said.  It was all the Greyhounds needed with Kater adding his second score on the night this time from the 13 yard line making it 35-21 Solanco late in the third quarter.

Solanco behind their triple-option answered the next possession with Senior Fullback Cole Harris capping it off for his first and only score on the evening (42-21).  Just when it appeared the Mules could start celebrating Chamberlain hit his brother Troy Chamberlain streaking down the sideline for a 48 yard touchdown pass. This left the score 42-28 Solanco and on their next possession which bled the fourth quarter clock, saw the Mules turn the ball over on downs at the Shippensburg 8.

Chamberlain would quickly work Shippensburg down the field, hitting on 3 big pass plays and hit Kater (third score on the night) on a 5-yard slant for the touchdown. With 3:25 left the Greyhounds had cut this once insurmountable lead to 42-35.

The visitors were unable to have one more possession as Solanco behind a big run again by Forren (176 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns) sealed the deal and ran off the clock. The Golden Mules were able to hold homefield and advance to the district 3 5A semi-finals. “It feels great, it was our get back from Freshman year (referring to Shippensburg previously beaten them in the playoffs” Forren said “Not the finish we want, we will need to be ready for Cocalico as they play a similar style to us”.

Solanco will welcome 12^th seed Cocalico next Friday night, they faced off back in week 2 with the Mules coming out on top 21-7, Coach Cox knows the challenge they have next week “Its gonna be a battle, its gonna be a chess team” Coach replied “Bryan (Cocalico HC Bryan Strohl) does a great job with them, our Seniors will have to step up.”

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