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Littlestown runs wild in win over Boiling Springs


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The Littlestown Thunderbolts shook free of some demons Friday night, the first step toward reclaiming the high standard the program set for many years under head coach Mike Lippy.

Littlestown avenged a lopsided loss from 2015 against Boiling Springs, scoring a resounding 28-0 whitewash over the Bubblers at Memorial Field.

Perhaps more surprising than the depth of the final margin was the way the Thunderbolts achieved it — with a ground-and-pound running game.

Atypical of many great Lippy-coached teams of the past, Littlestown ran the ball 55 times, and threw it on just 12 plays.

Wes Storey churned, whirled, and juked for 108 yards, and Andrew Matthews dashed and darted for 101 yards, giving the Bolts a rare pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game.

"I cannot remember that," Lippy said. "I don't think I've ever had that in high school."

The rushing attack supported senior quarterback Tanner Noble in his first varsity start.

"He managed the game as best he could," Lippy said. "He was getting a lot of pressure, because (Boiling Springs) were blitzing up the A-gap and B-gap all night long. I thought he handled it, he was cool, calm, and collected, and made plays when he needed to. I'm very proud of him."

Boiling Springs won the opening toss, and deferred to the second half. Littlestown took the opening kickoff, and hogged the ball for nearly nine minutes.

Snapping the ball 18 times, the Thunderbolts covered 56 yards, but came up short on a fourth down incompletion by Noble at the Bubblers' 12.

Andrew Matthews set the tone on the first defensive play, slamming running back Bryan Malone to the ground for a 2-yard loss. Malone gouged the Thunderbolts for 277 yards last year.

An electrifying 21-yard punt return by Corbin Brown set up the first touchdown.

Matthews then followed lead blocker Brandon Morey into the end zone from 4 yards out with 14.9 remaining in the opening stanza.

A leaping interception by Ben Snouffer on a screen pass set up Littlestown's next score right before the half.

Noble hooked up with Tyler Barthel three times on the ensuing drive, including a 10-yard fade that Barthel pinned against his helmet for a touchdown.

Storey and Matthews each added short touchdowns in the second half. 

"They came with a great gameplan to shut down our style of football," Boiling Springs head coach Nathan Freier said. "We were forced to adjust, and we didn't adjust all that well."

Boiling Springs_0_0_0_0_—_0     
Littlestown_7_7_6_8_—_28 
 
First Quarter  
Lt --
Andrew Matthews 4 run (Alex Potts kick), 0:15.  
Second Quarter  
Lt --
Tyler Barthel 10 pass from Tanner Noble (Potts kick), 0:30.   
Third Quarter  
Lt -- 
Matthews 1 run (kick blocked), 4:16. 
Fourth Quarter  
Lt --
Wes Storey 1 run (Wyatt Kramer pass from Ben Snouffer) 
 _._Boi_ Lt  
First downs_6_23  
Rushes-Yards_22-76_55-280 
Passing_3-9-1_8-12-0  
Passing Yards_20_92  
Total Yards_96_371  
Punts_3-33.3_0-0.0  
Fumbles-Lost_2-0_0-0 
Penalties-Yards_1-15_5-35  
Rushing — Boiling Springs, Bryan Malone 12-58, Darius Johnson 7-29, Josh Otto 1-5, Evan Mancuso 2-(-16). Littlestown, Wes Storey 24-108, Andrew Matthews 16-101, Wyatt Kramer 3-33, Austin Watters 5-30, Dylan Morey 2-8, Alex Potts 1-3, Trent Stonesifer 1-1, Tanner Noble 2-(-2), team 1-(-2).
Passing — Boiling Springs, Mancuso 3-9-1-20. Littlestown, Noble 8-12-0-92, Jakob Lane 0-0-0-0.
Receiving — Boiling Springs, Cameron Wolf 2-14, Jake Walker 1-6. Littlestown, Tyler Barthel 6-78, Trey Noble 1-9, Matthews 1-5.