BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
South Williamsport’s A.J. Flick throws a pass over Hughesville’s Jase Wright during a HAC game Friday night. The Mounties scored 16 points in the final quarter to defeat Hughesville, 23-7.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
South Williamsport’s Ashton Martin barrels through a tackler for a big gain during a game against Hughesville.
By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
It was all about the finish for South Williamsport one week after a disappointing loss against Danville at home.
Chris Eiswerth and company drilled the Mountie players throughout the week, imploring the importance of a strong finish against Hughesville.
Consider the boxes checked as South Williamsport scored 16 points over the final quarter en route to a 23-7 win over Hughesville.
The win pushed the Mounties record to 2-1, while handing the Spartans their first loss of the season.
“This week we really wanted to finish and play four quarters and put a complete game together,” South Williamsport coach Chris Eiswerth said. “We really played stout ball in the second half and that’s what we are trying to do.”
The final two South Williamsport drives highlighted a rugged day on the ground for the Mounties, who gained 183 yards on 37 carries.
Gideon Green, who finished with 116 yards on 18 carries, ground out tough yardage for South Williamsport’s second touchdown of the game. Green added 20 yards on the 52-yard scoring drive, bursting through the line for a five-yard touchdown.
“It’s all up front. I have to give all the credit to them,” Green said. “The coaches did a wonderful job of calling plays and I just executed them.”
“He’s a guy who has started for us since he was a freshman,” Eiswerth said. “I challenged him and the offensive line to step it up in the second half and they really did that for us tonight.”
Green broke off a 37-yard run to open the next drive with a touchdown for the Mounties. In all three scoring instances Kyle Betz converted the extra points.
“We worked out butts off for this,” Green said. “We started in January and worked out three days a week through the offseason. It just feels so good, because we put so much time an effort into this team. We stepped it up and played all for quarters to come out with the win.”
Believe it or not, but the Mounties scored on a safety for their first points of the game. The 2-0 lead would help South Williamsport get on the board, but it was the ensuing possession that resulted in a Ashton Martin touchdown that would prove to be the difference in the game.
“The defense came out strong,” Eiswerth said. “We did enough offensively to mix it up and keep Hughesville off-balance.”
Martin carried the ball four times for 24 yards on the drive, capping the possession with back-to-back six-yard runs to give South Williamsport at 9-0 lead.
Hughesville had six possessions in the first half, with four resulting in punts and another going for a safety. It wasn’t any better in the second half as the Spartans gained just one first down and went four-and-out on four of five possessions.
“At half time we had a big heart-to-heart with the team,” Eiswerth said. “We really wanted them to come out and leave everything on the field. They did and we’re proud of them.”
The lone possession that worked for the Spartans resulted in their only points of the game.
The drive started at the Mounties’ 48 and bridged the first an second quarters. The six-play drive was capped when Gavin Steele broke through the line for a three-yard touchdown.
It would be all the closer the Spartans would get as South Williamsport scored 16 points over the final two quarters for the win.
South Williamsport 23, Hughesville 7
HUGH 0 7 0 0-7
SW 9 0 0 16-23
FIRST QUARTER
SW-Safety
SW-Ashton Martin 6 run (Kyle Betz kick) 5:01
SECOND QUARTER
H-Gavin Steele 3 run (Rylan Hicks kick) 11:06
FOURTH QUARTER
SW-Gideon Green 5 run (Betz kick) 4:42
SW-Green 37 run (Betz kick) 4:11
HUGH SW
First Downs 2 10
Total Yards 84 259
Rushes-yards 25-46 37-183
Passing 38 76
Comp.-Att.-Int. 3-10-0 8-12-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING-HUGHESVILLE: Ryan McClain 7-13; Jase Wright 9-36; Landon Henry 7-(-5); Ori Shaner 1-1; Julian Brehm 1-1. SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT: Gideon Green 18-116 TD; Ashton Martin 10-32; A.J. Flick 8-28; Aaron Guerrisky 1-7.
RECEIVING-HUGHESVILLE: Brenden Gardner 1-9; Ryan Swink 1-20; Ryan McClain 1-9. SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT: Aaron Guerrisky 1-9; Ashton Martin 6-45; Patrick West 1-21.
PASSING-HUGHESVILLE Landon Henry 3-10 38 yards. SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT A.J. Flick 8-11-1 76 yards.
INTERCEPTIONS-Hughesville Dante Bair. South Williamsport none.
RECORDS: Hughesville 2-1. South Williamsport 2-1.
