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Farrell Rallies Past Grove City

Tagged under: District 10, Gameday Hub, News, pfn

| September 8, 2023

 Farrell – Farrell overcame a 14-13 4th-quarter deficit to edge Grove City Friday night at Anthony J. Paulekas Stadium.

The Steelers followed up a dramatic 24-17 win over Warren Harding last week with a 21-14 come-from-behind victory.

“It was a great regional win; I’m a little disappointed with how we played tonight,” said Farrell head coach Anthony Pegues. “You’re going to have these kind of games’ in this region. Week in and week out, you play well-coached, good football teams. Grove City came in and gave us a game, but like champions do, we came back and found a way to get it done.”

Danny Odem’s 15-yard touchdown from Kabron Smith with 3:17 remaining proved to be the game-winner as Farrell held off a late Eagles comeback attempt.

Grove City had a shot at the upset when quarterback Hunter Hohman intercepted fellow signal-caller Kabron Smith and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown with 6:10 to play, giving the Eagles their only lead of the night at 14-13.

“That was a great night of high school football,” said Grove City head coach Sam Mowrey. “Coming into Farrell, we knew what we were getting, and our message to the boys was to keep fighting and that it only takes one play to make something happen. Our special teams were able to set up and make a play. Defensively, we kept on fighting on every play, and Hunter got that interception of a tipped ball that gave us a chance to win the football game. Even on their final drive, our defense stepped up. One of our messages was to make them earn everything, and I think we did that tonight.”

In six plays, Farrell regained the lead, driving 50 yards as Kabron Smith completed 4-of-5 passes for 48 yards, including a go-ahead 15-yard touchdown to Odem – who also caught the subsequent 2pt-conversion.

“Kabron is our senior leader,” Pegues said. “He never gets rattled. He’s always calm, cool, and collected – a smart kid. Especially on that last drive, he had to make some throws to drive us down the field for the win. You can go far when you have a kid like that leading your team.”

Danny Odem had a massive game for the Steelers, leading all receivers with 12 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Kabron Smith completed 20-of-35 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns.

Grove City had one final shot, driving to the Farrell 35-yard line ten plays later – however, Hunter Hohman’s fourth-down pass was broken up at the 10-yard line with 17 seconds to play. 

The Eagles were held without an offensive touchdown and limited to 152 yards of offense.

“Offensively, I thought we had some great things going at times,” Mowrey said. “Our line did a great job, and Hunter did great making some plays with his legs. We need to finish the drives. We were able to move the football between the twenties, and if we can finish just one of those, we’d be in great shape.” 

Grove City, who trailed 13-0 at halftime, saw an immediate spark to begin the third stanza as Nathan Greer returned the second-half kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown.

Greer also caught five passes for 31 yards, while Hohman rushed for 46 yards on 21 carries while completing 8-of-17 passes for 45 yards. 

Farrell had taken the early lead, scoring on their initial drive following a 14-play 80-yard drive when Smith tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Odem at the 5:58 mark of the first quarter. 

Trailing 7-0, Grove City had driven to the Steelers’ 15-yard line. On 4th down, Simier Wade intercepted a Hohman pass and returned it 41 yards to the Eagles 49-yard line with 2:42 to play in the half. 

“Defensively, we didn’t give up a touchdown; it was the pick-six and kickoff return,” said Pegues. “Our coaches do a great job putting kids in the position they need to be – offensively right now, we’re lacking and not where we need to be.” 

Farrell then drove 49 yards in four plays as Brandon Chambers hauled in, then reached for a 13-yard touchdown with 56 seconds remaining in the first half. 

The Steelers will look to keep the momentum going next Friday night when they host Greenville.

Grove City will look to bounce back host 3-0 Sharon, the Tigers are yet to give up a point in their 2023 campaign. 

Game Highlights:

 

Stats Courtesy of Ryan Briggs

Farrell 21 Grove City 14

Score by Quarters

Grove City – 0 0 7 7 – 14

Farrell – 7 6 0 8 – 21

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

F – Danny Odem 10 yd pass from Kabron Smith, (Marion Norris pat), 5:58 – 14-80

Second Quarter

F – Brandon Chambers 13 yd pass from Smith, (kick failed), 0:56 – 4-49

Third Quarter

GC – Nathan Greer 83 yd kickoff return, (Jacob Stucchio pat), 11:50

Fourth Quarter

GC – Hunter Hohman 80 yd interception return, (Stucchio pat), 6:10

F – Odem 15 yd pass from Smith, (Odem from Smith), 3:17 – 6-50

Individual Stats

Rushing: GC – Gavin Lutz 1-27, Hohman 21-46, Bode Stevenson 8-29, Jaxyn Wilson 3-5, Nathan Greer 1-0. Totals: 34-107. F – Juelz Johnson 8-25, Smith 16-66, Chambers 2-(-2), Team 1-0. Totals: 27-89.

Receiving: GC – Greer 5-31, Lutz 3-14. F- Odem 12-125, Johnson 2-11, Simeir Wade 2-38, Julius Phillips 2-33, Chambers 2-27, Johnson 2-11.

Passing: GC – Hohman 8-for-17, 45 yards, 1 INT, Team 0-for-1. F – Smith 20-for-35, 234 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT.

Interceptions: F – Wade, GC – Hohman.

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