JACKSON TWP — Alex Paulsen's toughest battle as he followed the punt he blocked 20 yards downfield before putting his arms out to catch it Friday night at NexTier Stadium may have been his anxiety.

The Seneca Valley senior nose tackle was prepared for the worst.

“I was like, 'Oh, God. I'm not going to catch it',” Paulsen said. “'Don't drop it, don't drop it, don't drop it.' Then it landed in my hands and I was like 'I have to go for the touchdown.'

“The last time when the ball came out, I wanted to scoop and score, but I laid on it. When I caught it, I was going to the endzone, I've waited for it all my life.”

Paulsen's first career touchdown — at any level — was part of a 27-point outburst in the second quarter that helped the Raiders squash Hempfield 49-0 in their Quad County Conference opener.

Seneca Valley has beaten up the Spartans (2-2, 0-1) since they were placed in the same conference in 2018. The Raiders outscored Hempfield 141-12 in their past four meetings, including three shutouts.

The Raiders' defense was especially effective at clamping down on Spartans running back Gino Caesar, who had rushed for 210 yards last week against Franklin Regional. Caesar was limited to 40 yards on 20 carries.

Hempfield was limited to 70 yards of total offense, including 14 on the ground.

“I was trusting everyone to do their job,” Paulsen said. “I think we did a good job. We wanted to contain the running back and make sure he gets swallowed up.”

The Raiders (3-1, 1-0) started to heat up after two of their first three drives ended in Hempfield territory without points. The Spartans kept giving Seneca Valley extra chances. A punt that went sailing over Hempfield punter Jacob Phillips' head was recovered by Paulsen at the Spartan 20.

Seneca Valley converted a key 4th-and-5 with a 12-yard reception by Luke Lawson on a pass from Graham Hancox. The Raiders scored three plays later on another 12-yard catch by Lawson, giving them a 6-0 lead with 10 minutes, 49 seconds left before halftime.

With how the defense was playing, Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle felt confident the Raiders could convert for first downs in any situation.

“I think we have confidence in what we do,” Butschle said. “Calling those plays on fourth down and third and longs are things we feel confident in. Our defense played unbelievable. When you pitch a shutout and play defense the way we did, it's easier to make those calls on third and fourth down.”

Following a short Hempfield punt, Hancox would cap a 38-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run and found Lawson on a pass for the two-point conversion to stretch the lead to 14-0.

The Raiders next two touchdowns came in the final 2.5 minutes of the half. Paulsen scored on special teams and then Seneca Valley forced another three-and-out.

Hancox, who passed for 235 yards, found Nick Hemer on a 41-yard pass to get Seneca Valley close before finding Lawson for a 14-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left before halftime.

“I think as a whole our team is coming together and trusting our coaches and coaching staff to put us in the right situation,” said Lawson, who finished with 152 yards receiving and two touchdowns. “Our defense got us great field position and it all starts there.”

Hempfield 0 0 0 0 — 0

Seneca Valley 0 27 8 14 — 49

Second Quarter

SV — Luke Lawson 12 pass from Graham Hancox (kick failed), 10:49

SV — Hancox 11 run (Lawson pass from Hancox), 7:46

SV — Alex Paulsen 21 blocked punt return (Camden Bush kick), 2:17

SV — Lawson 14 pass from Hancox (kick failed), :34

Third Quarter

SV — Wyatt Craver 8 run (Aiden Lyczek pass from Hancox), 2:30

Fourth Quarter

SV — Max Scanlan 11 run (Bush kick), 11:53

SV — Jaydon Fischer 8 run (Jacob Adams kick), 5:28

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Hempfield, Gino Caesar 20-40, Deondre Richards 2-8, Ryan Stefey 6-8, Elijah Binkakosky 1-2, Ethan Zontak 1-(-4), Keiran Lippman 4-(-12), Jacob Phillips 4-(-40). Seneca Valley, Max Scanlan 2-25, Wyatt Craver 5-15, Zekai Edwards 8-13, Jaydon Fischer 5-13, Sean O'Shea 1-3, Brandon Ross 1-(-5), Graham Hancox 5-(-11).

Passing: Hempfield, Jacob Phillips 3-10-28-0, Jeiran Lippman 3-6-21-1. Seneca Valley, Graham Hancox 12-28-235-1.

Receiving: Hempfield, Jayden Talbert 3-35, Keiran Lippmann 1-8, Ewing 1-4, Satangelo 1-3, Gino Caesar 1-(-1). Seneca Valley, Luke Lawson 7-152, Nick Hemer 3-86, Aiden Lyczek 1-23, Brandon Ross 1-(-2).