Vikings’ defense holds strong in 13-10 win
Jim Downey | 缅北禁地
Mount Pleasant鈥檚 Aaron Alakson (11) looks for an opening after taking a handoff from quarterback Asher O鈥機onnor in the first quarter of Friday鈥檚 Interstate Conference game at Southmoreland.
Mount Pleasant's Pete Billey (32) and Tyler Reese (5) attempt to bring down Southmoreland quarterback Zach Cernuto in the first quarter of Friday's Interstate Conference game at Southmoreland.
A wall of blockers form around Mount Pleasant's Tyler Reese (5) as he returns a kickoff early in the second quarter of Friday's Interstate Conference game at Southmoreland. Reese had a big return that set up the Vikings' first touchdown of the game.
Southmoreland's Zach Cernuto hangs on to the leg of Mount Pleasant's Pete Billey (32) to bring down the running back in the first quarter of Friday's Interstate Conference game at Southmoreland.
Mount Pleasant's Jonas King chases down Southmoreland's Anthony Stewart after Stewart caught a pass from Zach Cernuto in the first quarter of Friday's Interstate Conference game at Southmoreland.
jdowney@heraldstandard.com
The Mount Pleasant defense stopped Southmoreland quarterback Zach Cernuto on a fourth-and-1 inside its 10-yard line to preserve the Vikings鈥� 13-10 Interstate Conference victory Friday night at Southmoreland.
The win halted the Scotties鈥� two-game winning streak in their heated rivalry.
Southmoreland recovered a fumble near midfield with about two minutes remaining in the game. The Scotties moved the ball inside the Vikings鈥� 10-yard line, but the drive stalled at the 8-yard line.
Southmoreland coach Dave Keefer opted to go for it on fourth-and-1, but Cernuto was stopped by Jared Yester and the ball turned over on downs.
鈥淚 thought we鈥檇 get it. Give Mount Pleasant credit. They stuffed it,鈥� said Keefer. 鈥淲e had an RPO called and Zach made the right call (not to make the pitch and keep the ball). The linebacker made a nice play.
鈥淯nfortunately, we didn鈥檛 get it.鈥�
Viking coach Jason Fazekas had to summon on his defense one final time.
鈥淭hey played an outstanding game and it ended with a great defensive stand,鈥� Fazekas said. 鈥淭hey have a great quarterback but our guys stepped up when the game was on the line.鈥�
Southmoreland still had a chance to get the ball back but Mount Pleasant鈥檚 Pete Billey broke free on a 30-yard run for a first down that allowed the Vikings to run out the clock.
Andrew Rodgriguez broke the scoreless tie at 10:41 of the second quarter when the Scotties鈥� kicker connected on a 32-yard field goal.
The Vikings鈥� Tyler Reese responded with a big return on the ensuing kickoff, and Mount Pleasant cashed in on the momentum when Donavin Bair got behind the Southmoreland defense for a 35-yard touchdown pass from Asher O鈥機onnor at 10:09 of the quarter.
The kick failed to give Mount Pleasant a 6-3 lead at halftime.
鈥淚 thought it was really big to get that first touchdown,鈥� Fazekas said. 鈥淭hat allowed us to play with a lead and rely on our defense.鈥�
O鈥機onnor extended the Vikings鈥� lead with a 25-yard touchdown run at 8:07 of the third quarter. Robbie Labuda鈥檚 point after gave Mount Pleasant a 13-3 lead.
Cernuto plowed in from a yard and Rodriguez hit the point-after to close Southmoreland鈥檚 deficit to 13-10 with 6:17 left in the game.
鈥淲e moved the ball in the second half. I thought we鈥檇 have a grind-it-out game,鈥� said Keefer.
鈥淲e will lick our wounds, regroup and get ready for Derry. We have to go on a run now.鈥�
Fazekas said his team鈥檚 main focus was on winning the game because of the importance of it in the standings, 鈥渂ut they all know about the rivalry so, of course, we did mention during the week that we had lost the last two and didn鈥檛 want to make it three in a row.
鈥淚t is a great rivalry. When you鈥檙e in such close proximity and you only have to drive 10 minutes down the road it makes for an intense game for the players and for the community.鈥�
Pete Billey led the Vikings with 73 yards rushing on 15 carries. O鈥機onnor completed 4-of-8 passes for 78 yards with a touchdown and interception.
Noah Phillips game 49 yards on 10 carries for the Scotties. Cernuto was 12-of-19 for 143 yards and no interceptions. Anthony Govern caught six passes for 65 yards.