Elco wins opener at Susquenita

DUNCANNON - A key statistic that haunted the Elco football team in 2015 and continued all offseason was an 0-3 start, costing them a spot in the district playoffs. Beginning the 2016 season Friday at Susquenita, the Raiders made sure that wasn't going to happen again.

Though it wasn't their best game, the Raiders maintained their composure and pulled out a 17-7 come-from-behind victory over the Blackhawks to begin the 2016 season.

“It was coming back and relying upon each other in the second half. Guys really stepped it up,” Elco coach Bob Miller said. “We’re really proud of them. The coaches and the team pulled together from the first play to the end of the game.”

After Dane Miller gave Elco a 3-0 lead with 5:15 left in the opening quarter, Susquenita took its first and only lead of the game early in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run from Cory Kline. But then the Raiders were able to put together a late drive with just under three minutes left in the half via one big play - a 54-yard bomb from Kyle Knight to Cory Kline, giving the Raiders a 10-7 halftime lead. Knight was 9-15 on the night for 125 yards and that touchdown.

Now with all the momentum, Elco generated great success with its run game in the second half, capped off with a one-yard touchdown run by Tyler Horst to start the fourth quarter, giving the Raiders breathing room and eventually securing the win. Horst finished with 54 yards rushing. Elco also found success against Susquenita in the second half with some halftime adjustments absorbed quickly by new and old starters alike.

“They’re a bigger team than us up front, but we were able to make some adjustments and they didn’t move it as successfully in the second half,” Miller said. “Those little adjustments and the fact that the kids could take those adjustments, great job by the whole team.”

Cole Miller, a new starter at linebacker, made some big plays defensively, racking up tackles and getting his hands in passing lanes.

Elco 17, Susquenita 7

Elco _ 3_ 7 _ 0 _ 7_ — _17

Susquenita _0 _ 7 _ 0 _ 0 _ — _7

First Quarter

E — FG Dane Miller 33, 5:15

Second Quarter

S — Dane Barrick 1 run (Nate Woleslagle kick), 10:23

E - Cory Kline 54 pass from Kyle Knight (Miller kick), 2:57

Fourth Quarter

E — Tyler Horst 1 run (Miller kick), 11:57

Team Statistics

_Elco_ Susquenita

First downs _ 12 _ 11

Rushes-yards _ 35-126 _ 31-119

Passing _ 9-15-0 _ 5-12-1

Passing yards _ 125 _ 47

Total yards _ 251 _ 166

Punts _ 2-30 _ 2-28

Fumbles-lost _ 0-0 _ 2-1

Penalties-yards _ 4-30 _ 6-26

Individual Statistics

Rushing — Elco: Horst 18-54, TD; Knight 15-69; Cole Miller 2-3. Susquenita: Russ Amick 1-0; Trent McGuire 10-40; Barrick 20-79, TD.

Passing — Elco: Knight 9-15-0 for 125 yards, TD. Susquenita: Barrick 5-12-1 for 47 yards.

Receiving — Elco: Miller 1-5; Nathan Beamer 4-36; Kline 2-56, TD; Ryan Eshleman 1-25; Joseph Rittle 1-3. Susquenita: Trent McGuire 3-20; Joey Hestor 1-14; Angel Lugo 1-13.