Full Steam Ahead
ADAMS TWP — The freight train that is North Catholic's football team squashed yet another opponent Friday night.
The Trojan defense allowed just 92 yards and four first downs as North dismantled Deer Lakes, 35-0, at the Mars Athletic Complex.
It is the Trojans' sixth shutout in eight games this season. They have now outscored their opponents 333-31.
With a win, the Lancers (3-2, 3-5) would have knocked the Trojans off their perch atop the Allegheny Seven Conference standings. But while North's offense struggled holding onto the ball at times, the defense never wavered.
Deer Lakes did not pick up a first down until the final two minutes of the first half and the Lancers tallied just 20 yards of offense in the first two quarters.
“You want your kids to keep improving every week and defensively, we're doing that,” said North coach Patrick O'Shea. “The kids are beginning to trust each other, knowing that each of them is going to take care of his assignment. They realize we have a shot to be a really special defense.”
North fumbled the ball seven times, four coming on snaps of the football. Late in the first half, the Trojans (4-0, 8-0) held a modest 7-0 lead thanks to Joey Prentice's 47-yard scoring pass to Kyle Tipinski late in the first quarter.
“Snaps have been an issue for us this season,” O'Shea said. “We're going to have to look at it again.”
The Trojans got rolling in earnest when sophomore Jack Fennell raced 44 yards for a touchdown with just under three minutes left before halftime.
Penalties and a sack of quarterback Derek Burk by Daniel Long forced the Lancers to punt and Fennell soon found himself in the endzone again, this time on an 18-yard pass from Prentice. Ethan Marsico's extra point gave the Trojans a 21-0 lead at the break.
Tipinski amassed 214 yards from scrimmage, including 134 on the ground. Fennell had 88 yards of offense. Both players scored two touchdowns.
“It's a good combination with both of us rotating in and running the ball. We don't get tired,” Fennell said. “We can also line up in the slot and that helps.”
The best chance Deer Lakes had to score turned into points at the opposite end of the field.A North Catholic fumble was recovered by the Lancers' Jake Thimons and Deer Lakes was set up at the Trojan 19 early in the second half.Three plays netted just two yards and Mason Metzler's 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Gavin Kamody.Mitch Lanthaler scooped up the prize and raced 62 yards for a touchdown.The Trojans visit Freeport (3-0, 4-3) next Friday and can clinch the conference title with a victory.“We've been really focused in practice,” Fennell said. “Every rep ... we need to make sure we're ready for every game.”Deer Lakes 0 0 0 0 — 0North Catholic 7 14 14 0 — 35First QuarterNC — Kyle Tipinski 47 pass from Joey Prentice (Ethan Marsico kick), 2:16Second QuarterNC — Jack Fennell 44 run (Marsico kick), 2:52NC — Fennell 18 pass from Prentice (Marsico kick), 1:42Third QuarterNC — Mitch Lanthaler 62 blocked field goal return (run failed), 9:22NC — Tipinski 38 run (Prentice run), 2:39Individual StatisticsRushing: Deer Lakes, Cody Scarantine 15-29, Derek Burk 6-(-32), Colton Bach 4-4, Chris Blatnik 3-12. North Catholic, Joey Prentice 5-24, Jack Fennell 7-61, Kyle Tipinski 11-134, Jason Siket 2-(-10), Danny Franco 2-12.Passing: Deer Lakes, Derek Burk 8-18-74-0, Nate Ryan 1-3-5-0. North Catholic, Joey Prentice 11-14-202-0.Receiving: Deer Lakes, Josh Jordan 4-24, Fletcher Hammond 1-5, Ryan Cochran 1-30, Cody Scarantine 1-5, Jake Thimons 1-10, Brandon College 1-5. North Catholic, Kyle Tipinski 4-80, Daniel Long 2-27, Jack Fennell 2-27, Tyler Maziarz 2-61, Mitch Lanthaler 1-7.
