Raiders display strong act after half
JACKSON TWP — North Hills wanted to send a message at the start of the second half, but it was Seneca Valley's play that was heard loud and clear.
Leading the Indians 17-10 at the start of the third quarter, the Raiders' defense forced a three-and-out.
A 55-yard punt by the Indians' Arran Collins pinned Seneca at its own 12-yard line. But led mostly by a consistent ground game, the Raiders marched 88 yards in 15 plays and scored on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Jack Cook to tight end Cody Boozel. The sequence highlighted a 31-10 Northern Eight Conference victory for the Raiders at NexTier Stadium.
“We always want to come out strong in the second half,” said Raiders' coach Dave Vestal. “The defensive stop was the key. This was a big win versus a really good football program.”
Facing a third-and-5 from their own 29 on the drive, the Raiders turned to junior halfback Hank Royal who was hit two yards shy of the first down, but carried two defenders four more yards to extend the possession.
Also playing a pivotal role in the series was a pair of unsportsmanlike penalties called against the Indians. Both flags were thrown following Cook's incomplete pass on third-and-8 from the Raider 46.
“We were having trouble stopping them to begin with,” said North Hills coach Pat Carey. “Then we get those two penalties. Those really cost us. We have to play smart football.”
Though many players contributed to the win, the second half belonged to Royal, who tallied 98 of his 160 yards on the ground in the final two quarters.
“The more he gets the ball, the more confident he becomes,” said Vestal of Royal. “He had a great week of practice and is really hitting his stride.”
Royal's last carry of the game came in the fourth quarter when he lowered his right shoulder and knocked North Hills defensive back Nick Santucci onto his back on the former's 13-yard touchdown run.
Playing sparingly last season as a special teamer, Royal is relishing his new role with the team's offense.
“Coming into the season, I was just hoping to get a lot of carries,” he said. “It all comes down to the line's play. It's easy once you get to the second level because you're dealing with smaller guys on defense.”
But there were many times in the game when Royal gained several more yards after an initial hit by a lineman or linebacker.
“One guy isn't going to bring me down,” he said.
Seneca broke the ice with a bit of luck early in the first quarter.
After making a 36-yard reception from Cook, Mark Smith was tackled at the Indians' 1 and fumbled the ball into the end zone. Ben Bachik was there for the recovery and a 7-0 lead.
Both teams traded field goals — Jacob Seiler a 30-yard make for the Indians (2-2, 2-1) and Dylan Grubbs from 23 yards out for the Raiders — before North Hills tied the game at 10 when Santucci followed up his 50-yard scamper with a scoring run from one yard out.
Santucci tallied 136 yards from scrimmage, including 114 on the ground. The rest of North Hills' offense managed just 37 yards.
“It's critical we find another offensive threat,” said Carey. “Nick is doing everything he can.”
The Raiders took the lead for good on Cook's 35-yard touchdown pass to Boozel, who juggled the ball at the goal line before securing the second-quarter score.
The Raiders (2-2, 2-1) will host Butler next Friday in the battle for the Butler Eagle Quad A Traveling Trophy.
