Run N' Done
Spartans Rush Past Mount Pleasant For 58 - 7 Win
If any fans showed up at The Graveyard hoping to see an aerial display, they surely left disappointed. From early on it was obvious both teams planned on running the ball. When Mount Pleasant opened the game with a 52 yard run, it looked as though St. Mark's might struggle with the Green Knight ground attack. However, in the end, it was the Spartan runners that did Mount Pleasant in. St. Mark's went to the air only 8 times, perhaps to break up the boredom of a relentless ground assault, that produced 306 yards and 7 touchdowns. Using mostly run plays, the Spartans scored on four of their first five offensive possessions. They only failed to make it five for five, when a 4th down pass was broken up at the goal line .
The momentum the Green Knights had gained with Jorden Collins big run was quickly snuffed out, when Ryan DuPlessis intercepted Zach Wallen's pass and returned it to Mount Pleasant's 40 yard line. Five runs later Andrew Watkins scored to give St. Mark's the early lead. The Green Knights struck right back with a 13 play, 62 yard drive to tie the game on Vincent Smith's 1 yard run. The Spartans would equal that response, only faster. With a short field after Mount Pleasant's kickoff, St. Mark's would regain the lead with Matthew Dougherty scoring from 10 yards out. The Green Knights would attempt to bounce back again, but were thwarted by the Spartan defense, and would continue to be, throughout most of the game. Something that couldn't be said for their opponents, who had no answer for St. Mark's offense.
The Spartans would pad their lead, scoring twice out of their next three possessions on Andrew Watkins runs, forcing the Green Knights to go to the air. Out of their element, Mount Pleasant would end up surrendering a 29 yard punt return to Blaec Sanders, after a big sack forced them to kick from their own end zone. With the Green Knights trailing 31 - 7, and on the ropes, Jelani Bryant delivered the knockout punch, with a 60 yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half. They would put Mount Pleasant on a running clock on their following drive, when Ryan DuPlessis scored on a 6 yard pass from A.J. Poppiti. Zion Glover would get on the score sheet with a 12 yard run, after the Spartan defense forced a fumble on a QB sack. And sophmore Luke Moore would entertain the home crowd with some tough running for the game's final score. The Green Knights would threaten at the end, after a highlight reel run by Donnell Gandy, but would be stopped short by St. Mark's defense.
The Spartan offense gained a total of 354 yards, 48 of which came from the combined passing of quarterbacks Jelani Bryant and A.J. Poppiti, who had quiet but effective games. Andrew Watkins led the team in rushing with 14 carries for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns. However the ground attack was a team effort with great blocking from the line and backs, with five other players combining for 161 yards on 13 attempts. Matt Dougherty led the receivers with 21 yards. The defense gave up a total of 204 yards, but kept the Mount Pleasant offense throttled for most of the night. Matthew Tynes led the team with 9 tackles , while Victor Marcelo, Joey Cartwright, and Brandon Holmburg each had a sack. Marcelo also caused a fumble which was recovered by Patrick Cannon, and Ryan DuPlessis had an interception. Sebastian Salazar did well filling in for Eric Ludman going 4 of 6 on extra point attempts, with the two failed attempts being blocked.
Editors Note: My apologies to Jelani Bryant for not having his touchdown run in the highlights. In order to have some pictures for the article, I take a few plays off to snap some shots. The picture used in the article was the play you scored on.
Scoring Summary:
SM - Watkins 1 yard run (Salazar kick)
MP - Smith 1 yard run (Damasceno kick)
SM - Dougherty 10 yard run (kick blocked)
SM - Watkins 2 yard run (kick blocked)
SM - Watkins 2 yard run (run failed)
SM - Sanders 29 yard punt return (run failed)
SM - Bryant 60 yard run (Salazar kick)
SM - DuPlessis 6 yard pass from Poppiti (Salazar kick)
SM - Glover 12 yard run (Salazar kick)
SM - Moore 5 yard run (run failed)
SM - Watkins 1 yard run (Salazar kick)
MP - Smith 1 yard run (Damasceno kick)
SM - Dougherty 10 yard run (kick blocked)
SM - Watkins 2 yard run (kick blocked)
SM - Watkins 2 yard run (run failed)
SM - Sanders 29 yard punt return (run failed)
SM - Bryant 60 yard run (Salazar kick)
SM - DuPlessis 6 yard pass from Poppiti (Salazar kick)
SM - Glover 12 yard run (Salazar kick)
SM - Moore 5 yard run (run failed)
Box Score:
Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
Mount Pleasant |
7 |
000 |
000 |
000 |
7 |
St. Mark's |
13 |
18 |
21 |
6 |
58 |