SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — It had been a difficult series for Schuylkill Haven.
A 2-yard carry and an illegal procedure penalty had put the Hurricanes at their own 6-yard line facing second-and-13.
Danny Lozada turned that situation completely around with one play.
The Schuylkill Haven quarterback broke free for a 94-yard touchdown that launched the Hurricanes to a 47-0 romp over Shenandoah Valley in an Anthracite Football League game at Rotary Field.
“Coach (Mike) Farr had a great call in the beginning and, the linemen, they executed well,” the Schuylkill Haven quarterback said. “As the play was developing, they all chipped it over (to the right). And Coach Farr has one rule — near post. That’s what I looked at, and I just ran there.”
Lozada broke free and outran the Shenandoah Valley secondary to the end zone for a touchdown that gave the Hurricanes (2-1, 2-1 AFL) a 14-point lead after Dawson Evitts’ second of four extra points in the game.
“We were just running a jet sweep and then he’s just keeping and finding the seam,” Farr said.
That play was an indication of the punishing ground game by the Hurricanes.
Schuylkill Haven rushed 50 times for 513 yards, with Lozada gaining 208. He only passed the ball twice with one attempt wiped out by a penalty.
After a scoreless first period, the Hurricane rushers found their stride and produced seven touchdowns, including carries of 28, 46 and 1 yards by Preston Gehring, who rushed for 135 yards.
Lozada later added a 65-yard touchdown run, a play that he said was suggested by offensive guard Max Motko.
“Max has the opportunity to tell him to change it, and he checked out of it,” Farr said about Lozada’s second touchdown run. “It was a simple quarterback sneak. They had no one over the center.”
Schuylkill Haven added a 2-yard scoring run by Nick Kerschner and an 8-yard touchdown run by Brent Mataka with just 1:45 remaining.
Shenandoah Valley head coach Kevin Bolinsky said, “They’re deep in the line. That’s the strength. Coach Farr, he’s a great coach. He’s going to control that clock and make sure that you don’t score.”
Mataka’s touchdown followed the game’ s lone interception, a pass by Jason Najunas that was returned 47 yards by Austin Clauser to set up the Hurricanes at the Blue Devils’ 15-yard line.
The interception capped a frustrating night for the spread offense of Shenandoah Valley (0-3, 0-3).
Starting quarterback Ian McCole completed just 9-of-23 passes and was sacked seven times. Of the Blue Devils’ 16 running plays, just seven went for positive yardage.
“We’re not going to draw up a whole new playbook. We’re just going to make our checks every week,” Bolinsky said. “You’ve got to have faith in your system and stick to your philosophy.”
For the Hurricanes, that meant the rushing game, which totaled 215 yards and two touchdowns in the first half before wearing down the Blue Devils in the second.
“The tank’s asking for fuel,” Bolinsky said of his squad.
Lozada’s 94-yard run followed Gehring’s 1-yard touchdown plunge for the Hurricanes’ first-half touchdowns.
Gehring added his 28- and 46-yard touchdown runs on consecutive offensive series to start the third period for a 28-0 bulge.
Lozada’s second touchdown was the highlight of the Hurricanes’ 19-point fourth quarter as they scored touchdowns on drives of just two and three plays.
Joel Santana caught six passes for 59 yards to pace Shenandoah Valley’s offense.
Game Summary
SV (0-3, 0-3) 0 0 0 0 — 0
SH (2-1, 2-1) 0 14 14 19 — 47
SH — Gehring 1 run (Evitts kick)
SH — Lozada 94 run (Evitts kick)
SH — Gehring 28 run (Evitts kick)
SH — Gehring 46 run (Evitts kick)
SH — Kerschner 2 run (kick failed)
SH — Lozada 65 run (Handling kick)
SH — Mataka 8 run (run failed)
SV Haven
First Downs 6 17
Rushes-Yards 16-(-21) 50-513
Passes 9-24-1 0-1-0
Passing Yards 96 0
Total Yards 75 513
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 2-0
Penalties 5-21 10-92
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Shenandoah Valley — Allegretta 2-14, Cabrera 1-5, Najunas 1-0, Urbanavage 3-3, McCole 9-(-43). Schuylkill Haven — Lozada 9-208, Gehring 16-135, Browne 9-89, Batz 6-36, Davis 4-16, Kerschner 3-14, Mataka 2-9, Luckenbill 1-6.
PASSING: Shenandoah Valley — McCole 9-23-0, 96; Najunas 0-1-1, 0. Schuylkill Haven — Lozada 0-1-0. 0.
RECEIVING: Shenandoah Valley — Santana 6-59, Morales 1-30, Urbanavage 1-7, Allegretta 1-0. Schuylkill Haven — None.
INTERCEPTIONS: Schuylkill Haven — Clauser