Wisloski Wows In Tiger Win

Tagged under: District 4, Gameday Hub, News

Dave Fegley | September 3, 2022

Southern Handles Shamokin 43-0

After Southern Columbia’s Braeden Wisloski missed the better part of last year’s regular season, he used it as motivation to showcase his skills in the playoffs all the way through the fifth straight, and record 12th overall, state title win in December when he was featured on ESPN with a catch against Serra Catholic in Hershey.

Last week he started his senior campaign with a strong second half effort in helping the Tigers come from behind to win.

In week two, the Maryland commit made it the ‘Wisloski Show’ by scoring three different ways as Southern blanked Shamokin Area 43-0 in the first meeting in three years between the two schools separated by just over 10 miles.

“He is a tremendous athlete. We have had a lot of great running backs over the years, but when he is in the open field there isn’t anyone faster that we have had. After losing Gavin Garcia after last season to graduation, Braeden and Wes (Barnes) have taken over the leadership role in our backfield,” said SCA head coach Jim Roth.

With 6:01 left in the first quarter, Wisloski got a handoff near the Tiger goal-line after being pinned deep on a punt. The former 100-meter dash PIAA champion took the pigskin 97 yards to the end zone for the second longest run in the program’s history. That touchdown carry put Southern in front 23-0 at Kemp Memorial Stadium against Shamokin who won their season opener last week over Lewisburg.

“It was a fun game. Knowing those guys being so close together as schools in terms of our location they were talking, and we were talking a little back to them. It was friendly in terms of being familiar with each other. With the rivalry there is some trash talking, but in the end I’m happy with the outcome for sure,” Wisloski said.

In total, the Tigers outrushed the Indians 314-65. Having to replace half of the line from last season, it was a nice confidence booster for the five-time defending Pennsylvania Class 2A champions.

We came out with a different mindset than last week when we slacked a bit at the start. We wanted to put them in the ground right away and did it,” said SCA senior right tackle Chris Treshock.

After Southern’s defense forced a turnover on downs when Shamokin gambled on a 4th and 1 in their own territory to start the game, the Tigers wasted no time to put points on the scoreboard.

The very first offensive play, junior Blake Wise found Wisloski behind the Indians’ secondary after executing a play-action fake.

“I just saw him wide-open and knew he was going to score,” said Wise when asked about his 24-yard touchdown pass to his halfback.

That was the start in what turned out to be a complete domination no matter which way you looked at it for SCA.

Just 12 seconds later, the Tiger defense added a safety after a mistake forced Shamokin to start a drive near their goal line. Barnes scored on the third play of the ensuing drive from a yard out.

“I thought the guys were more disciplined from the start in comparison to last week. We didn’t play well in the first half at Berwick but were able to escape with a win. I’d much rather win the way we did tonight where everyone seemed ready from the start,” Roth said.

Wisloski’s 33-yard punt return for a score gave the visitors a 29-0 lead at the break.

Not having to wait in the locker room for nearly two hours at halftime like they did in their opener, Southern put the game into the Mercy Rule early in the third quarter.

With 10:56 left in the quarter, Barnes scored on a run of 14 yards. He finished with 139 yards rushing as Wisloski added 118. It’s the second game in a row that the pair went over the century mark.

“We came out and did what we needed to do. That’s what we want to do each week going forward,” said Barnes who is a three-year starter like Wisloski.

Louden Murphy scored the final touchdown of the game on a three-yard run after intercepting a pass on the previous play.

The Tigers (2-0) will play their first home game next week as they host the Lancers of Loyalsock. The Indians (1-1) will battle with the Wildcats on Friday as they hit the road to Mifflinburg.

Injury Bug

Injuries have unfortunately struck both teams early in the season. Although Southern’s loss of two-time all-state linebacker Garrett Garcia has been the headline, Shamokin lost their top receiver last week in Ryder Zulkowski and Friday saw quarterback Brett Nye watch the second half on crutches followed by an injury to fullback Corey Adams.

“It is a part of the game unfortunately. You hate to see injuries that keep guys from playing, but there isn’t anything that you can do about it. You just hope for the best when the kids get examined,” said Shamokin head coach Henry Hynoski.

Odd In Purple

For the Tiger fans, it’s still weird seeing Hynoski in purple and white after growing up in Elysburg and starring in high school as Southern’s fullback that paved the way during the early 2000’s when the former Super Bowl champion was a four-time state champion with the Tigers.

Although he was the opposing coach, with Roth and some of his former assistant coaches on the opposite sideline, the blood still runs from the roots.

“It is good to communicate with him (Hynoski) and go up against him. It’s a rivalry, but one that you would consider a friendly rivalry. I know he’s disappointed in the outcome, but just like I told him after the game I thought it could have been a much more competitive game than our past matchups. He talked about some of the issues they are having with some injuries and other stuff, but I wish him the best going forward in their season,” said Roth who picked up his 473rd career victory to extend his state record.

BOX SCORE

Southern: 23 – 6 – 14 – 0 — 43

Shamokin: 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 — 0

SCORING

First quarter

T — Braeden Wisloski 24 pass from Blake Wise (Isaac Carter kick), 9:13

T — Safety, 9:01

T — Wes Barnes 1 run (Carter kick), 8:14

T — Wisloski 97 run (Carter kick), 6:01

Second quarter

T — Wisloski 33 punt return (blocked kick), 5:15

Third quarter

T —Barnes 14 run (Carter kick), 10:56

T — Louden Murphy 3 run (Carter kick), 8:58

Fourth quarter

None.

Southern  — Shamokin

First downs 14 — 4

Rushing-yds. 23-314 — 29-65

Passing 4-6-1 — 4-11-1

Passing yds. 53 — 33

Total yds. 367 — 98

Fumbles-lost 2-2 — 4-1

Penalties-yds. 4-30 — 5-28

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING —

Southern: Wes Barnes 8-139, 2 TD’s; Braeden Wisloski 3-118, TD; Louden Murphy 3-27, TD; Jack Beirmaas 3-18; Brayden Andrews 2-8; Carter Madden 2-4; Nate Gallagher 2-0.

Shamokin: Zakeem Clinton 3-19; Corey Adams 5-17; Jayce Ginck 3-15; Wisdom Artis-Jones 4-11; Brett Nye 2-8; Bridgeton Delvalle 2-0; Brad Latsha 2-(-1); Knowledge Artis-Jones 8-(-4).

PASSING —

Southern: Blake Wise 4-6-1, 53 yds, TD.

Shamokin: Brett Nye 3-6-0, 23 yds; Brad Latsha 1-5-1, 10 yds.

RECEIVING —

Southern: Braeden Wisloski 1-24, TD; Carter Madden 1-15; Wes Barnes 1-13; Jake Toczylousky 1-1.

Shamokin: Wisdom Artis-Jones 3-23; Colton Lynch 1-10.

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