Shaler star sparks win over listless SV
JACKSON TWP — It was just a matter of time until Jesse Della Valle took off.
When he did, the rest of Shaler's football team followed.
Through the first 22 minutes of Friday night's game at Seneca Valley, the Titans' senior wideout-tailback touched the ball once for an 8-yard loss.
With the Raiders leading 7-3 late in the second quarter, Shaler quarterback Tyler Bills hit Della Valle with a 39-yard strike on a post route that set the Titans up at the SV 8.
On the next play, Della Valle ran it in for the score that gave his team the lead for good in Shaler's 33-7 decision over the Raiders.
"We had to start dominating the line of scrimmage first," said Shaler coach Neil Gordon of Della Valle's early role as a decoy. "Once those safeties started to come up to support the run defense, that's when we took some shots."
Shaler's Ben Bocka intercepted a Donny Holl pass on the ensuing drive and the Raiders later were flagged for pass interference, allowing Steve Hamilton to extend his team's lead to 13-7 with a 32-yard field goal as the first half expired.
"First, we have a blown coverage on the best player on the field," said SV coach Don Holl. "Then the interception, the penalty and the field goal they kicked — it was a real disappointing momentum swing at the end of the half."
Della Valle added a 63-yard punt return for a score in the third quarter to give the Titans a 19-7 advantage.
Meanwhile, the Raiders' offense struggled to find its rhythm.
SV's lone score came at the end of the first quarter when Evan Hetzel answered Hamilton's 27-yard field goal with a 93-yard kickoff return.
At halftime, the Raiders (3-4, 1-2) had 31 yards of offense, 109 by the end of the game.
"We've played pretty good defense all year," said Gordon. "You go back and look at the scores of our games. We've given up a few special teams touchdowns, and our second- and third-team defense has given up some scores. Other than that, our defense has played really well."
Aside from his score on special teams, Hetzel was the lone bright spot on SV's offense, gaining 75 yards on 11 carries.
The Titans (6-1, 2-1) added fourth-quarter touchdowns by John Orr and John Holtz on a 6-yard run and 6-yard reception to cap the scoring.
"We just could get nothing going on offense and left our defense out on the field way too long," said Holl. "I'm the offensive coordinator. I call the plays, so that's my fault."
Notes: Shaler's Matt Ramey rushed for 91 yards on 26 carries. ... Bills completed seven of 16 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. ... The Raiders travel to Pine-Richland next Friday.
