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The hardest games of South Western's schedule remain to be played in the next four weeks, and it remains to be seen what the Mustangs can really do in those telling games.
But at least on Friday night, everything was running on full cylinders as South Western thrilled a homecoming crowd with a 48-7 thumping of Spring Grove.
The Mustangs' defense finally came up huge, junior quarterback Ian Smith showed poise in only his second start, and J.R. Mummert rebounded from a poor showing a week ago.
It was the kind of performance that had South Western head coach Don Seidenstricker grinning from ear to ear after the game.
"Finally," Seidenstricker said. "Finally."
In the next three weeks, South Western has to deal with YAIAA Division I foes Red Lion, Central York and William Penn in a row. Each program has been on a tear recently, and all won Friday.
"Let's face it, we're looking down the pike here at Red Lion, Central, William Penn and a New Oxford team that's playing better," Seidenstricker said.
But on Friday, Mummert had 150 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns, all in the first half. The junior running back played so well, Seidenstricker decided to rest him the entire second half to prevent any injuries.
After South Western (3-3-, 2-1) had lost a fumble on its very first possession of the game, the Mustang defense held the Rockets (1-5, 0-3), forcing a turnover on downs.
When South Western got the ball back, a balanced offense went to work. Mummert capped off an impressive eight-play, 69-yard drive with a 30-yard burst down the left side of the field.
"I saw wide-open field and thought to myself, 'I have to get our first score, I have to get everyone pumped up,'" Mummert said. "I just saw the end zone and ran as fast as I could."
His run gave indications of how his night would continue. On the scamper, he evaded two tacklers, perhaps making a small gain into a very long one.
Spring Grove countered on its very next possession, though. Senior quarterback Ian Smith (same name as the South Western quarterback) drove the Rockets quickly down the field, utilizing a no-huddle offense that caught the Mustangs' defense off guard.
He finished off the five-play, 62 yard drive with a 35-yard sprint to the left side of the field into the end zone in only 1 minute, 39 seconds.
But South Western responded right away, something it failed to do at Dallastown a week ago.
After starting play at its own 37, the Mustangs drove down the field meticulously in a 8-play, 64 yard drive. Zac Scott bulldozed his way into the end zone from a yard out, as South Western took back the lead, 14-7.
South Western scored five touchdowns in its seven possessions in the first half and that took into account its last, which began with 1:23 left in the second quarter.
The defense also forced four sacks and Jake Myers had an interception.
Spring Grove 7 0 0 0 -- 7
South Western 14 21 0 13 -- 48
First Quarter
SW -- J.R. Mummert 30 run (Zak Kruger kick).
SG -- Ian Smith 35 run (Ben Reigart kick).
SW -- Zac Scott 1 run (Kruger kick).
Second Quarter
SW -- Mummert 52 run (Kruger kick).
SW -- Mummert 29 run (Kruger kick).
SW -- Chris Helwig 4 run (Kruger kick).
Fourth Quarter
SW -- Levi Sager 42 pass from Bobby Porter (Kruger kick).
SW -- Tyrell McCleary 5 run (kick failed).
-- SG -- SW
First downs -- 7 -- 14
Rushes-yards -- 30-50 -- 36-241
Passing -- 6-22-1 -- 6-10-0
Passing yards -- 44 -- 111
Total yards -- 94 -- 352
Punts -- 7-34.0 -- 2-37.5
Fumbles-lost -- 0-0 -- 3-2
Penalties-yards -- 1-15 -- 4-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing -- SG, Ian Smith 10-27, Bobby Bailey 14-19, Joseph Slate 1-2, Dillon Durst 3-1, Neal Grudi 1-1, Anthony Welford 1-0; SW, J.R. Mummert 12-150, Ian Smith 3-25, Mike Brant 4-24, Chris Helwig 8-22, Levi Sager 2-13, McCleary 1-5, Ryan Sexton 1-3, Jeb Shipley 3-1, Zac Scott 1-1, Jake Myers 1-(-3).
Passing -- SG, Smith 5-20-1-37, Jacob Hoover 1-2-0-7; SW, Smith 5-9-0-69, Porter 1-1-0-42.
Receiving -- SG, Josh Nell 1-29, Matt Brookhart 3-16, Tyler Kerchner 1-7, Bailey 1-(-8); SW, Sager 1-42, Kyle Mahorney 1-28, Drew Sneeringer 1-13, Shipley 1-11, Jimmy Nicklas 1-10, Helwig 1-7.
