RED SWARM BURIES BLUE DEVILS
In 2005 the Shenandoah Valley crowd suggested Jim Thorpe use a shovel. The Olympians brought a shovel to the 2006 matchup and used it to bury the Devils. The highly regarded SV backfield (Reese, Metkus, Varga & Latimore) was held to a total of 3 yards rushing on 19 carries.
After a short SV kickoff was returned to the Devil 45 yard line to open the game by Tony Mistretta, the Olympians drove for their opening touchdown. Scott McGonigal finished the drive with a 2 yard TD run. The extra point kick by Alex Landon made the score 7-0. The Red Swarm defense would take over the game and force 3 turnovers. Second quarter runs by Craig Zurn and Phil Redline extended the lead to 21-0. The lone Shenandoah score would come in the 2nd quarter on a 1 yd run by Josh Metkus.
The offensive & defensive line of the Olympians dominated the entire game. On offense line opened holes for 2 100 yard rushers for the 2nd straight week (Zurn 25-100 & Redline 20-119) and gave Zurn plenty of time to pass (receptions: Raul DeBenedittis 2-27, Flizack 1-30 & Redline 1-10). McGonigal would close out the scoring with a 1yd run in the 4th quarter. With the JT defense completely shutting down the run, SV was forced to throw 26 times. Eric Busocker ended a Devil drive in the 3rd quarter with his first interception of the year.
A 
complete team effort on defense kept the Devils from reaching the endzone in the second half. Zurn smothered Kaplafka, Porembo punished ball carriers, Bradley pressured Reese while Flizack kept contain and batted down pass attempts.
The win keeps the Olympians atop the Anthracite league standings at 5-0.
NEXT GAME
Friday Oct 6th, 7pm at 4-1 Minersville.
Visit the Shenandoah Photo Gallery with more than 90 photos from the game here.
