MAHANOY CITY - After rushing for more than 500 yards in two games, there is little question Mahanoy Area's football team may go as far as the legs of quarterback Dylan Mahmod take it.
Mahanoy Area head coach Dave Holman is well aware of that perception. To back him up, his Golden Bears put their defense on display Friday night en route to a 40-6 Anthracite Football League victory over Marian that improved unbeaten Mahanoy Area to 3-0.
"Absolutely a team win," Holman said. "Our defense played phenomenal tonight. They were well-prepared. They executed the plan and they just came out relentless.
"They actually weren't happy with their performances in weeks one and two and they really wanted to set an example. They did that tonight."
The effort not only sent Marian to its first 0-3 record in many years, but the Colts also lost defensive back Frank Nietz midway through the fourth period when he did not get up after a gang tackle of the Golden Bears' Jason Richmond.
Nietz was placed onto a backboard and taken by ambulance to
St. Luke's Medical Center in Coaldale, but the senior raised his right arm to his teammates before being put into the ambulance.
"Based upon what the medical people said, he's going to be fine, but I'm not a doctor," Marian head coach Stan Dakosty said, noting the treatment on the field was a precaution.
Nietz's injury came well after the outcome of the game was certain and during Mahanoy Area's final touchdown drive, which ended when Austin Forte shoved his way into the end zone with 1:48 left.
That drive, like the Golden Bears' others, was triggered by Mahmod, who carried 34 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored a two-point conversion run and threw to Forte for two more points.
"This is a quarterback's offense," Holman said about the Golden Bears' flexbone. "He's making the right reads. He's really executing the offense well.
"However, it's a collaborative effort. The offensive line has worked really hard."
Mahanoy Area scored its first touchdown early in the second period after Mahmod played a role on defense. He intercepted a deflected pass tossed by Marian's K.J. Snerr and returned it 25 yards. Mason Evitts ran the final 5 yards for the score.
The Golden Bears added two touchdowns to close the first half as Mahmod scored from 7 and 8 yards out.
After Mahanoy Area held Marian to 19 yards of offense in the first half, the Golden Bears opened the second half with the biggest play of the night.
Mahmod found Evitts all alone and connected him for a 62-yard pass-and-run to the end zone. Mahmod's conversion run hiked the edge to 28-0.
Snerr gave Marian its offensive highlight on the next series with an effective fake that allowed him to run untouched 43 yards for a touchdown.
But Mahanoy Area answered as Mahmod scored from 7 yards on the next series before the Bears capped the night with Forte's touchdown.
"We really haven't stopped anybody all season, so we knew we were going to have our hands full here," Dakosty said. "We have not played good defense from scrimmage one."
Marian was also hurt by two interceptions and a punt that was deflected by the Bears' Tyler Cavenas and set up one of Mahanoy Area's touchdowns.
It all added up to a big night for the Golden Bears. Although his team is 3-0, Holman is cautious.
"All I know we're guaranteed now is a 3-and-7 record," Holman said. "So we have to enjoy this and get over it quickly."