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Executive Education Stifles Minersville

Tagged under: District 11, News, pfn, Playoffs

| November 5, 2024

Entering tonight’s game, Minersville averaged 40 points per game. Quarterback Dante Carr, who has received an offer from Lehigh, began the night with over 2,800 all-purpose yards on his junior season. But tonight belonged to the Raptors and a suffocating defensive effort that held the Battlin’ Miners in check from the start, as part of a 26-6 victory for the No. 5 seed.

The tone was set early on both sides of the ball. Executive got the ball first and Cazhiere Richardson quickly became the workhorse and featured receiver of the night. His first catch was a 14 yard gain. His next went for 12. On 4th & 2, QB Zion Brake was able to draw the defense offsides. With a fresh set of downs, Brake hit Jaiden Perez deep over the middle for a touchdown, but a holding call brought the 35-yard completion back. The offense was not deterred and Sylis Styles eventually finished off the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. With 6:30 to play in the quarter, the Raptors led 6-0.

Minersville started strong on their first drive. Dante Carr swung a pass out to Paiten LaPoint for 14 yards over the left side. Carr then showed why he is a duel threat, as he took off for 14 more yards to the Executive 31. LaPoint ran for 10 more and the Miners had reached the Raptors 21. Carr dropped in a touchdown pass to Logan Hutsko in the corner of the end zone, but a holding call wiped the score off the board. Two plays later, Jeremiah Rodriguez jumped a rout in the flat, intercepting the pass and racing all the way back to the Minersville 30.

While the Raptors did not capitalize on their ensuing drive, they would again see the end zone in the middle of the second quarter. After forcing a punt, Executive took over on their own 22. After taking a sack, Zion Brake got the time he needed to uncork a 64-yard bomb to Richardson, extending the Raptors lead to 14-0 with 6:03 to play in the half.

Rodriguez picked Carr for a second time on the next drive, snagging a deep ball on his own 1-yard line. Minersville would force a quick three-and-out and take over on the Executive 38 after a short punt. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty helped the Miners into the red zone, and they capitalized when Carr ran it six yards for the score.

Two plays later, though, the Raptors responded. Sylis Styles slipped through a few missed tackles over the right side, going down the far sideline for 40 yards. Brake then threw a brilliant bomb to Richardson in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 20-6 with 3:30 to play in the second quarter.

Minersville drove the field in their final drive of the half, aided by a Dante Carr 23 pickup. After thee incompletions with Carr throwing on the run, he was met in the backfield by Tavarez Valasquez and Aaron Baker on fourth down.

By halftime, the Raptors had asserted themselves quite noticeably. Easton Schultz had been limited to 18 yards and Carr just 49. Carr was also 2/9 for 20 through the air, as the Raptors secondary clamped down on receviers while simultaneously pressuring the backfield. Carr was never comfortable in the pocket, throwing on the run most plays. Meanwhile, Brake had completed 10 of his 12 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Styles was 11-78 with a score. Executive was showing off their speed, tenacity, and ability to hit very hard.

Carr remained on the run when the third quarter got started. He was called for intentional grounding, which killed a drive that had reached the Raptors 28. The Miners defense responded well, as Aiden Boom, Logan Rizzardi, and AJ Halford all found Zion Brake in the backfield on three separate third quarter occasions.

However, Minersville would not see the scoreboard again. Jaiden Perez came unblocked from his safety position and clobbered Carr in the backfield on a fourth quarter drive that had crossed into EEACS territory and was the last best chance for the Miners to get back in the game. Richardson picked off Carr late to slam the door shut on any final hopes.

Sylis Styles added an 11-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to put the exclamation point on a decisive 26-6 victory. He finished the game running for 150 yards on 20 carries. Zion Brake threw for 245, completing 18 of his 24 passes. Richardson caught ten of those for 162 and two TDs. The Raptors defense held Minersville to under 180 total yards on the night.

Executive Education advances to take on high-flying top-seeded Schuylkill Haven next Saturday night at Rotary Field. Minersville’s season comes to a close with a 7-4 record.

Read more at LSVSports.com

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