Redemption Recorded For SCA
Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News
Dave Fegley | September 9, 2023
Tigers Pick Up Tremendous Win At Loyalsock
As Southern Columbia entered Kenneth M. Robbins Stadium on Friday evening, they were fully aware that Loyalsock had defeated them a year ago.
What they may not have been aware of was the fact that if the Lancers beat the Tigers for a second year in a row, it would have had some historical relevance that the six-time defending PIAA Class 2A state champions wouldn’t have wanted to be part of.
The last time that Southern lost to the same opponent in back-to-back seasons was in 2008 and 2009 to a Selinsgrove squad that won the PIAA 3A title in the latter year. Only two other times has that occurred this century with the Tigers being on the short end of the stick.
In 2000 and 2001, the Tigers lost to Rochester in back-to-back state title games. However, Southern would get revenge beating the Rams the following season for a state gold and then again two years later in the PIAA final played inside of Hersheypark Stadium.
The same year that Southern finally broke through beating Rochester in the 2002 final, the Tigers lost to Mount Carmel Area. Southern dropped a regular season contest to the Red Tornadoes again in 2003, but the Tigers finished with another state gold that season as well.
On Friday, in a matchup between two of PFN’s state-ranked opponents it was the No. 1 ranked 2A team handling the No. 5 ranked 3A group.
Led by the defense, the Tigers dominated the Lancers in a 36-7 outcome that showed why Southern is setting out to win an unprecedented seventh straight state championship.
“We played well in most areas although we had some problems at times in the offensive line, especially in the second half. Overall, though, getting this win is very satisfying considering that they beat us last year,” said SCA head coach Jim Roth. “The line showed some good signs at times and with only one full-time starter back from last season up front, they will get better. It was a tough front that we played against in this game which is good experience. Winning in this fashion was nice with the defense continuing to stay strong.”
Following a punt, which was a common occurrence throughout the contest against Southern’s stout defense, the Tigers went 10 plays on their first possession to go in front 7-0 on a short Garrett Garcia touchdown plunge with 3:13 on the clock in the first quarter.
The Tigers ran the ball nine times with Carter Madden carrying it five times and Garcia four times while a 43-yard catch by Jake Hoy was mixed in between.
The third senior in the backfield, Louden Murphy, didn’t touch the ball during the first two drives, but the three-sport athlete made an impact during the remaining portion of the half scoring on three occasions.
“Coming in with their confidence, the hype seemed like it was a David vs Goliath type of matchup. I want to thank God for allowing us the opportunity of getting redemption,” Murphy said. “On defense, everybody did their job. Jake Hoy played a heck of a game on his island keeping Jaylen (Andrews) at a low output.”
Hoy had the tall order of covering Andrews, and what his teammates were confident in calling “Hoy Island” coming in, the Tiger senior protected it.
Andrews was limited to just 33 receiving yards as a reigning all-state receiver who dominated in the Lancers first two victories of the season. Hoy also picked off a Tyler Gee pass intended for him in the first half.
“We were amped up heading into this one. The entire defense was ready, and we just wanted to make sure to limit the big plays,” said Hoy who also hauled in a highlight reel one-handed catch on offense in the first half.
With 7:55 left in the first half, Murphy caught a 32-yard strike from Blake Wise that culminated in the end zone. Following a mistake on the extra point hold, Murphy took off to try and make up for it. At the last second, he threw what looked to be reminiscent of a basketball chest pass ahead to Hoy for a two-point conversion, making the score 15-0.
Minutes later, Loyalsock got on the board when Jamaire Harden caught a 35-yarder over Gavin Krebs for their lone touchdown of the game pass.
Krebs wasn’t happy with the play, but other than that he was one of the defensive players that was in control for Southern. The senior controlled the edge from his outside linebacker position.
“Players like Isaac Carter on the defensive line, Garrett Garcia and Dom Fetterolf in the middle linebacker slots, and everyone else on the list, it goes on and on with great efforts. We are just on a mission. We know what we want to do. We want to go 16-0 and win another state championship,” said Krebs who was honored before the game for his success in the classroom.
From there, Murphy went 59 yards on the ground for a touchdown on the first play of a drive and then caught a scoring throw from Wise for the second time to add points to the score board.
In last week’s win over Shamokin Area, Wise threw a touchdown pass on the final play of the second quarter to Murphy. This time, from 38 yards out, it came with 36 seconds remaining to put SCA in front 29-7.
“It wasn’t the same play call as last week. This time it was a wheel route. I saw him open, and I got it to him in space to let him do his thing and he made a great move after he caught it to make a defender miss him on a tackle attempt,” said Wise who threw for a career-high 167 yards.
Garcia scored on a 22-yard run in the fourth quarter to put an exclamation point on the victory that could ultimately determine the PHAC Division 2 championship despite being the first divisional matchup for either squad.
Southern’s defense didn’t allow a first down for the entirety of the second half.
For Roth, this was the first day all week he was around his team. Missing his first practice in his 40-year career on Monday, the state’s all-time winningest coach came down with COVID and got out of protocol before Friday.
“We put the gameplan into effect heading into the week and then I started feeling ill. I knew that my assistants would handle things, so there was no worry there. Thankfully, I was feeling better and was cleared. We have a veteran staff and I have full trust in all of the other coaches,” said Roth who kept his distance as he wore a mask for the first time since breaking the state wins record in the 2020 season when the pandemic was causing devastation.
Roth, who is getting inducted into SCA’s Athletic 2023 Hall of Fame class later this month with the group’s committee making an exception to their by-laws of a coach having to be retired before consideration, also needs to be acknowledged for his honesty of reporting his diagnosis.
Southern will now travel to Bucknell University’s Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium next week to try and stay unbeaten against Lewisburg before a following week matchup at home against Danville. The Green Dragons fell to Montoursville on Friday in double-OT.
“You just have to take it one play at a time and focus on your job. Whatever the situation is, you need to trust in yourself and your teammates. You can’t look ahead. You can only control the situation in the moment when it is presented to you. Right now, we are making the plays that we need to,” Wise said.
Loyalsock will travel to undefeated Danville who it lost to in the District 4 Class 3A final last season. The Ironmen haven’t been challenged yet this year.
Southern Columbia 36, Loyalsock 7
SCA — LOY
First Downs: 16 — 4
Rushes-yds: 37-273 — 23-37
Passing yds: 167 — 109
Total yds: 440 — 146
Passing (C-A-I): 5-11-1 — 9-17-1
Penalties: 10-78 — 5-35
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 — 1-1
SOUTHERN (3-0): 7-22-0-7 — 36
LOYALSOCK (2-1): 0-7-0-0 — 7
SCORING PLAYS
1st Quarter
S — Garrett Garcia 1 run (Isaac Carter kick), 3:13.
2nd Quarter
S — Louden Murphy 32 pass from Blake Wise (Jake Hoy pass from Murphy), 7:55.
L — Jamaire Harden 35 pass from Tyler Gee (Chris Cooley kick), 5:08.
S — Murphy 59 run (Isaac Carter kick), 1:57.
S —Murphy 38 pass from Wise (Carter kick), 0:36.
3rd Quarter
None.
4th Quarter
S —Garcia 22 run (Carter kick), 2:01.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Southern: Garrett Garcia 15-101, 2 TDs; Louden Murphy 8-94, TD; Carter Madden 14-78. Loyalsock: Tyler Gee 7-16; Dolan Harman 8-14; Kaden Keefer 2-5; Will Burdett 4-2; Jamaire Harden 2-0.
PASSING — Southern: Blake Wise 5-11-1, 167 yds, 2 TDs. Loyalsock: Tyler Gee 9-17-1, 109 yds, TD.
RECEIVING — Southern: Louden Murphy 2-70, 2 TDs; Jake Hoy 2-70; Garrett Garcia 1-27. Loyalsock: Jamaire Harden 2-41, TD; Jaylen Andrews 4-33; Will Burdett 1-24; Preston Gross 1-6; Gage Patterson 1-5.
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