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South Western bruises New Oxford


It was an interesting first half for South Western.

After Drew Hartlaub returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, the Mustangs found equally more ways to hurt themselves as they did to help themselves.

The Mustangs had three fumbles, one of which they lost. They threw an interception. They had two penalties cost them big plays, including a would-be touchdown. The defense committed a pass interference penalty on a New Oxford third down, giving the Colonials a first down.

That was the bad.

The good was five first-half touchdowns, including Hartlaub's special teams score. The defense held the Colonials to just two first downs and 32 total yards and it amounted to a sizeable lead at halftime, which resulted in a running clock in the second half and a 50-6 victory.

"We had a lot of penalties and fumbles. I don't think we played real well in the first half," South Western head coach Damian Poalucci said. "Good teams don't do that to themselves. We are battling that a little bit and have to get over that hump and play clean.

"Today was the worst. When you lose touchdowns and big runs (due to penalties), it's a little different than a 5-yard penalty."

Three Mustangs (2-2, 1-0 YAIAA Division I) recorded over 50 rushing yards, including Josh Higdon (92 yards), Thaddeus Davis (64 yards) and Delunche Shaw (58 yards).

Shaw and Higdon each scored two touchdowns and Davis recorded one of his own.

"Shaw is a nice change of pace and has great vision and is getting more touches each week," said Poalucci of the running back, who scored on runs of 19 and 11 yards in the second quarter.

Higdon scored on runs of 26 and 39 yards in the third quarter.

"He hasn't gotten many offensive reps. He might now," Poalucci said of Higdon. "Some of his cuts were really nice."

South Western's defense, which was led by Carson Perry's two interceptions, held the Colonials to just 135 total yards.

"They played well and did their job," Poalucci said.

New Oxford (0-4, 0-1 YAIAA Division I) was led by Tanner Miller's 33 yards rushing and 70 yards passing.

Isaac Siegman scored the lone Colonials touchdown on a 1-yard run with 6:15 to play in the third quarter.

New Oxford_0_0_6_0_—_6 
South Western_14_21_15_0_—_50

First Quarter

SW -- Drew Hartlaub 95 kick return (Wes Sneeringer kick), 11:47

SW -- Austin Snider 4 run (Sneeringer kick),  2:19

Second Quarter

SW -- Delunche Shaw 19 run (Sneeringer kick), 7:46

SW -- Shaw 11 run (Sneeringer kick), 5:26

SW -- Thaddeus Davis 3 run (Sneeringer kick), 0:42

Third Quarter

SW -- Josh Higdon 26 run (Sneeringer kick), 8:18

NO -- Isaac Siegman 1 run (kick failed), 6:15

SW -- Higdon 39 run (Grayson Wingert run), 2:50

_._NO_ SW

First downs_10_17

Rushes-Yards_33-65_31-218

Passing_7-19-2_5-9-1

Passing Yards_70_104

Total Yards_135_322

Punts_6-33.8_2-36.5

Fumbles-Lost_3-1_3-1

Penalties-Yards_1-5_5-37

Rushing — NO, Tanner Miller 16-33, Isaac Siegman 7-18, Brandon Scott 4-12, Nicholas Duncan 1 - (-6), Brennan Romanoff 5-8. SW, Austin Snider 2-2, Delunche Shaw 5-58, Nate VanCampen 3-17, Thaddeus Davis 7-64, Drew Hartlaub 2-(--3), Josh Higdon 5-53, Nick Boone 3-16, Grayson Wingert 2-8, Maeson Felton 2-3.

Passing — NO, Miller 7-19. SW, VanCampen 5-9.

Receiving — NO, Darrick Rudisill 4-32, Preciliano Torres 2-28, Luke Lardarello 1-10. SW, Hartlaub 3-60, Shareef Jakes 1-21, Teian Moore 1-23.