
Mapletown Clinches Tri-County South Title with 26-18 win over Monessen
Tagged under: District 7, News, pfn, Podcasts
Nate Grella | October 22, 2022
By Ethan Spozarski
On this day 17 years ago Mapleotwn defeated Monessen to secure the Tri-County South title. On Friday, the Mapletown Maples defeated the Greyhounds 26-18, and with the win, the Maples clinched the Tri-County South Title. Their first title since that game, exactly 17 years ago.
The Tri-County South rubber match started off with Monessen getting the ball first, driving down the field, and scoring a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
On the opening drive and
#1 Tyvaughn Kershaw runs in the 2-yard TOUCHDOWN for @Hounds_Football6-0 Hounds 1st || 7:43 @PFNBackyard @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/EwhjhUOk0C
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 21, 2022
Mapletown immediately responded with a scoring drive of their own. Senior Landan Stevenson scored the touchdown and two-point conversion for the Maples to take the lead in the middle of the first quarter.
LANDAN STEVENSON ties the game up at 6; then gets scored the 2-point conversion for @MapletownSports
8-6 Maples lead 1st || 7:29 @PFNBackyard @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/YCw5kwUlJs
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 21, 2022
Stevenson would go on to notch two rushing touchdowns on the night.
“We started off slow and came out rough, but we’re a tight family,” Stevenson said. “Came in at halftime, talked it over and we are a second half team,” he said.
Monessen, again driving down the field with a long drive, was cut short by an interception via Evan Griffin on the first passing play of the game.
INTERCEPTION EVAN GRIFFIN @MapletownSports
8-6 Maples lead 1st || 2:30@PFNBackyard @PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/gQKgavr94E
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 21, 2022
Mapletown went on to score in the second quarter off of a 61-yard touchdown pass by Landan Stevenson.
Heading into the game Stevenson was second in the WPIAL with 1,603 rushing yards along with 33 touchdowns. Stevenson talked about his senior season and experience.
“It’s been an honor playing with these kids’ players and coaches,” he said. “It feels amazing and we’re making history for Mapletown.”
Daevon Burke would go on to help Monessen score to bring the game within two points, however they failed to convert their two-point conversion. On the ensuing drive, Mapletown fumbled the football, the Hounds picked it up, and ran back all the way to the two-yard line.
Despite being two yards out three penalties in a row pushed the Greyhounds back to the 34-yard line where Grant Murin sacked the QB to end the second quarter.
GRANT MURIN GETS THE 4th&Goal STOP (from 34 yards out) @MapletownSports
HALFTIME
Score: @Hounds_Football 12@MapletownSports 14@PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/zoXHDdn3H3— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 22, 2022
In the second half, Mapletown came right out and scored off a four minute and 37 second drive.
LANDAN STEVENSON with his 2nd rushing TD on the day!! Stevenson misses the Extra Point @MapletownSports
20-12 Maples lead 3rd || 7:23 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/iv1m3bsPqY
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 22, 2022
The games’ first punt would occur on the following drive with five minutes and 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter. No more scoring would occur until halfway through the fourth quarter.
Evans ended the scoring drought by keeping it himself, and taking it into the endzone ,extending the Maples lead by 14.
QB Brody Evans keeps it himself for the score!! 2-point conversion no good @MapletownSports
26-12 Maples lead 4th || 6:47 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/Zbuq643eTR
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 22, 2022
Monessen running back Tyvaughn Kershaw would go and run 43 yards to the two-yard line where QB Daniel Dozier kept it and cut the Mapletown lead down to eight points.
After a 43-yard run by Tyvaughn Kershaw; QB Daniel Dozier keeps it and cuts the lead down to 8 @Hounds_Football
26-18 Maples lead 4th || 4:57 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/2rf5X6eS4t
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 22, 2022
Mapletown, after getting the ball back, was forced to punt it to Monessen with plenty of time left for a game-winning drive. However on a fourth and one play the Greyhounds fumbled the football off the snap, failing to convert.
WITH THE 4th & 1 stop @MapletownSports have WON THE TRI-COUNTY SOUTH and for the first time EVER are 9-0!!
Final Score: @Hounds_Football 18@MapletownSports 26
Stay tuned for our postgame interview!! @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/MKlTCNNuu7— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 22, 2022
Mapletown would go on to kneel the ball and secure their Tri-County South title. And for the first time ever in program history they went 9-0 and 5-0 in conference play.
“It feels amazing and it feels great,” Stevenson said.
Postgame Interview w/ our player of the game Landan Stevenson!!
Congratulations to @MapletownSports and thank you for the amazing hospitality by the coaches and staff working!! @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard pic.twitter.com/dmaufKSJ46
— Ethan Spozarski (@SpozarskiEthan) October 22, 2022
Mapletown will go on the road and face West Greene to finish up the season while Monessen will take on Beth-Center. Both games are set to kick off at 7 pm.
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