South Western puts artillery on full display vs. Gettysburg
South Western came into the 2015 football season with much expected of them.
People have been talking about how good the Mustangs can be in 2015, but Friday night was the first chance to showcase the product on the field.
South Western showcased a lot of weapons in its 38-13 victory over Gettysburg.
Perhaps no weapon is more lethal than the chemistry between quarterback Brock Geiman and Noah Staub.
Fans entering Warrior stadium just a few minutes late on Friday night missed the dramatic opening act of the show.
On the season's first play from scrimmage, Geiman saw Staub uncovered on the flank before the play and threw quickly to the lithe receiver 6 yards past the line.
In a flash, Staub turned downfield and angled away from safety Elijah Jackson.
He found wide-open field down the home sideline, and galloped gracefully 74 yards for a touchdown.
"We were going to run a hitch," Staub said, "and no one came out on me. We looked at each other before the snap and just had that connection, and he got it out to me."
"It seems a little far fetched, but it's not," Geiman said. "We've been playing together so long it just comes."
"That was a really nice play to start the season", Said South Western head coach Damien Poalucci, "You can't ask for anything more than that."
Another weapon is the South Western defense.
Gettysburg drove to the Mustangs 27-yard line on its first possession, but Andrew Hartlaub ended it when he picked off Tyler Wilt's pass that tipped off the hands of a receiver.
The turnover gave the ball to yet another set of weapons.
Running back Desean Crump cut across half the field on a 52-yard scamper that set up a 19-yard scoring burst by Jeff Green to make it 14-0, 6:01 into the contest.
Tyler Fulmore started the next defensive stand by shooting the gap and planting Warriors running back Kahlil Hill in the backfield.
Matt Smolko and Chris Steckel combined to drop Edny Celius in the backfield on the next play.
Even though the Warriors dug out of the hole with a 29-yard pass from Wilt to Tyson Sherman, South Western's defense stiffened and forced an Isaac Myers field goal attempt which was wide.
Staub and Geiman hooked up again early in the second on a lob pass for an 11-yard TD.
On South Western's next drive, they showcased another weapon, as kicker Wes Sneeringer snuck through a 34-yard field goal to make it 24-0.
After a half-hour lightning delay at halftime, the Mustangs supplied the thunder early in the third as they used their no-huddle goal-line offense to punch in a 1-yard score by Fulmore.
Nigel Williams put the mercy rule into effect with a 42-yard scamper down the visitors' sideline after a broken tackle.
Gettysburg broke through after a reverse jet sweep by Jackson netted 52 yards set up a 5-yard touchdown my Marquise Camel.
The home supporters rose to their feet and cheered as Camel rumbled around a vacant left corner and snuck inside the pylon.
Jackson added a TD of his own before another lightning delay brought a halt to the game with 6:09 remaining.
A half-hour later, the game was called.
South Western1410140—38Gettysburg0067—13
First Quarter
SW — Noah Staub 74 pass from Geiman
SW — Jeff Green 19 run (Sneeringer kick), 5:59
Second Quarter
SW — Staub 11 pass from Geiman (Sneeringer kick), 11:07
SW — Sneeringer 34 FG, 7:44
Third Quarter
SW — Tyler Fulmore 1 run (Sneeringer kick), 7:38
SW — Nigel Williams 42 run (Sneeringer kick), 5:55
Get — Marquise Camel 5 run (run failed), 3:08
Fourth Quarter
Get —Elijah Jackson 9 run (Isaac Myers kick), 9:33
SWGetFirst downs169Rushes-Yards25-22934-141Passing8-12-07-16-2Passing yards218104Total yards447245Punts3-21.31-18.0Fumbles-lost0-05-2Penalties-yards11-1015-51
Individual Stats
Rushing — SW, Desean Crump 3-75, Nigel Williams 3-63, Tyler Fulmore 6-24, Jeff Green 2-19, Andrew Hartlaub 3-18, Thaddeus Davis 2-17, Jacob Muir 3-13, Carson Perry 1-1, Brock Geiman 2-(-1). Get, Elijah Jackson 6-66, Marquise Camel 3-27, Edny Celius 6-23, Kahlil Hill 9-12, Bryce Newman 2-7, Tyler Wilt 8-6.
Passing — SW, Geiman 8-11-0-218, Nate VanCampen 0-1-0-0, Sean Wolfe 0-0-0-0. Get, Wilt 7-16-2-104.
Receiving — SW, Noah Staub 4-141, Corbin Byers 2-49, Matt Smolko 1-24, Zach Hughes 1-4. Get, Tyson Sherman 2-43, Patrick Heidecker 2-37, Devin Ringler 2-12, Jackson 1-12.