Seneca Valley gets the job done
JACKSON TWP — For the second straight week, Seneca Valley had a chance to clinch a WPIAL Class 6A playoff berth.
This time, the Raiders delivered.
Jack Cook accounted for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in the first half and Hank Royal rushed for 193 yards and two scores as the Raiders dismantled Shaler 57-6 in Northern Seven Conference play Friday night at NexTier Stadium.
SV had dropped a 49-14 decision at North Allegheny last week.
“We forgot about that game as soon as it was over,” said senior wide receiver Payton Skalos, who scored two touchdowns in Friday's victory. “We knew we had to focus on this game.”
“It was a great week of preparation,” said Raiders' coach Dave Vestal. “It was important for us to get back on the winning track here tonight.”
SV (5-3, 3-3) scored touchdowns on all six of its drives in the first half, aided by the team's defense that set the Raiders up in great field position.
The Raiders' longest drive in the first two quarters came on their initial possession, when they began at the Titan 45.
Four plays later, Cook and Royal hooked up for a 25-yard scoring play.
Shaler's second drive ended after three plays when SV defensive back Will Briscoe intercepted a Darin Mizgorski pass at the Titan 25.
Cook's scoring pass to Skalos on the very next play made it 13-0.
“I was happy with our defense tonight,” Vestal said. “It gave our offense a short field to work with. The two go hand in hand.”
By halftime, the Raiders had gained 264 yards of offense and 14 first downs, leading to a 43-0 advantage.
“Our line's blocking was tremendous, Hank was running the ball well. .... we were just really moving the ball tonight,” Skalos said.
Cook's other two touchdown passes went to Jake Bunofsky (14 yards) and another one to Skalos (13). Royal scored on runs from 20 and 1 yards out. Cook and Noah Mancuso also found pay dirt on the ground.Cook completed all five of his passes for 92 yards.Shaler's lone score came on a 71-yard kickoff return from Ryan Porter in the third quarter.Seneca Valley's victory knocks Penn Hills (4-5, 2-3) out of playoff contention.The Raiders will close the regular season next Friday against visiting Altoona.“It's going to be very important for us, we were just talking about it,” Skalos said. “We need to win that game to give us confidence entering the playoffs. We need it no matter who we play in the first round.”
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