Moody-Johnson duo powers Red Land to 3-1 start
If you throw out a 21-point opening quarter by Red Land, then Friday evening's game at Dover could look a lot different.
The Patriots were able to use two Dover interceptions and a blocked punt in the first quarter to blitz the Eagles and make off with a 38-14 win at Dover Area High School.
"I think it was almost too much, too soon," said Red Land coach Chad Weaver. "I think we got in a little rut after that. I'm never going to complain about going up 21-0, but I would have liked to have seen a little more focus and energy."
Dover (1-2) was playing without junior quarterback Alan Hansel, who was injured against Steel-High last week. Sophomore Dawson Jesmer started in his place.
Jesmer struggled in the first half, completing 6 of 14 passes for 83 yards and three interceptions. The six-foot, 165-pounder completed his first five passes in the second half and eliminated the picks.
"We are learning, we are growing," said Dover coach Wayne Snelbaker Jr. "(Red Land) is one heck of a team. They have experience. We are young. It goes back to that. We are trying to grow up fast. We are trying to find our way."
Dover's points came on the legs of 5-foot-7 sophomore Derek Arevalo. The 160-pounder, who spent most of last week's game at Steel-High with an arm in a sling, finished with 147 yards on 15 carries. He scored on a 14-yard run in the second quarter and added an 80-yard score down the right sideline in the third quarter.
Red Land (3-1) was paced by sophomore wide receiver Matt Moody and senior running back Justin Johnson.
Moody caught two first-quarter touchdowns of 25 yards each from quarterback Jake Radic. Moody added a 5-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter.
The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Johnson bullied and steamrolled his way through the Dover defense for a game-high 186 yards on 21 carries.
"We tried to spread (Dover) out a little more early (with some five wide receiver sets)," Weaver said. "(Johnson) just runs harder than most people, that's for sure. He does some great things with the ball."
Red Land lost three fumbles, also had a punt blocked and threw an interception, but Dover managed to only score off one of those opportunities.
"It's a game of inches sometimes," Snelbaker said. "We got some turnovers and got what we wanted, but couldn't capitalize on them. We talked about that at halftime. We could have been sitting 21-21 at halftime, but instead it was 21-7."
RED LAND 38, DOVER 14
Red Land_21_0_3_14_—_38
Dover_0_7_7_0_—_14
First Quarter
RL -- Matt Moody 25 pass from Jake Radic (Chad Stout kick), 11:05
RL -- Moody 25 pass from Radic (Stout kick), 4:56
RL -- Joe Crocenzi 18 punt block return (Stout kick), 3:09
Second Quarter
Do -- Derek Arevalo 14 run (Zach Noll kick), 3:27
Third Quarter
RL -- Stout 32 FG, 10:25
Do -- Arevalo 80 run (Noll kick), 10:10
Fourth Quarter
RL -- Justin Johnson 35 run (Stout kick), 11:08
RL -- Moody 5 pass from Radic (Stout kick), 6:28
Team Statistics
_RL_ Do
First downs_20_14
Rushes-Yards_41-284_37-165
Passing_6-19-1_12-24-3
Passing Yards_91_135
Total Yards_375_300
Punts_0-0.0_5-25.0
Fumbles-Lost_4-3_4-0
Penalties-Yards_8-60_6-40
Individual Statistics
Rushing — Red Land, Justin Johnson 21-186, Jake Radic 9-70, Nathan Stahl 5-16, Michael Stank 3-11, Hunter Briner 1-5, Justin Hertzog 1-2, Jack Hertzog 1-(-6). Dover, Derek Arevalo 15-147, Brandon Lawyer 8-28, Cole Jesmer 1-14, Shaun Hinkle 1-1, William Tomes 3-(-8), Dawson Jesmer 9-(-17).
Passing — Red Land, Radic 6-19, 91 yds., 3 TD, 1 Int. Dover, Dawson Jesmer 12-24, 135 yds., 0 TD, 3 Int.
Receiving — Red Land, Matt Moody 4-75, Jaelyn Gaither 1-10, John Greene 1-6. Dover, Cole Jesmer 3-58, Arevalo 3-20, Amari Peterson 2-18, Brady Bowman 1-18, Andrew Hoffman 1-15, Hinkle 2-6.