PINE TWP — In a football game that featured clutch offense on both sides, it was a defensive effort that was arguably the night's biggest play.

With his team protecting a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Seneca Valley senior defensive end Mike Smith rushed Pine-Richland quarterback Ben DiNucci on a 3rd-and-8 play in Rams territory.

Smith's reach stripped DiNucci of the ball at the 21-yard line. The former then scooped the prize up at the 19 and raced into the end zone, helping the Raiders to a 43-25 victory at Pine-Richland Stadium Thursday night.

Just moments earlier, Smith caught a 15-yard pass from Brad Hensler on a fake punt, setting up Mason Dehart's go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run with 11:03 left in the game.

“This is his first year of football,” Raiders' coach Don Holl said of Smith. “Those two plays he had tonight, sometimes that is what you need to turn a game around.”

“Coach Holl asked if I'd be interested in playing football this year,” Smith said. “I have a lot of friends on the team, so I decided to join. Being able to help us win like this, I've never felt this way.”

Smith's touchdown seemed to take the wind out of the Rams' sails. On their final three drives of the game, the Rams gained a total of 16 yards.

“Seneca Valley had already taken the lead on us and then they score defensively,” said Pine-Richland coach Eric Kasperowicz. “It was a big play in the game, but we have to hold onto the ball.

“We just couldn't get it rolling in the fourth quarter,” he added. “Credit Seneca's defense, they adjusted a bit to what we were doing.”

Dehart's 33-yard scoring run — his third touchdown of the night — iced the game with 4:57 remaining.

The first half proved back-and-forth as SV answered each of the Rams' three scores with a score of its own.

A flurry of offense closed the first half as the teams combined for 22 points in a span of 2:44 late in the second period.

Two touchdown passes from SV quarterback T.J. Holl to Eric Mrkonja bookended DiNucci's 29-yard scoring toss to D'ondre Gastion and the Raiders led 22-18 at halftime.

Holl intercepted DiNucci at SV's 1-yard line early in the third quarter, after which the Rams (1-1, 1-1) came up with a huge defensive play.

On 3rd-and-6 from his own 5-yard line, Holl dropped back to pass just inside his own goal-line and was hit by Luke Everett. The ball came free and was picked off by Jake Leone, who was credited with a 1-yard interception return for a touchdown. The play put Pine-Richland up 25-22, but awaiting the Rams was Seneca's 21-0 advantage in the final quarter.

“It wasn't a real pretty win, but it was a win,” said Coach Holl. “I know that our kids will battle and they will fight for each other.”

The biggest story line surrounding Seneca Valley (2-0, 2-0) in the preseason was how much talent the program had lost to graduation. With two Northern Eight Conference wins to open the year, the 2013 Raiders have proven that they are eager to pave their own road to success.

“There is a standard that we have to meet here,” said Smith, “but we feel we have the guys to get it done. I'm very blessed to be part of this team.”

Pine-Richland tailback Connor Slomka was the game's leading ground gainer with 155 yards on 28 carries.

Seneca Valley will face North Allegheny next Friday at NexTier Stadium.

Seneca Valley 43, Pine-Richland 25

Seneca Valley 8 14 0 21 — 43

Pine-Richland 7 11 7 0 — 25

SV PR

16 First Downs 16

42-136 Rushes-Yards 39-156

177 Passing Yards 153

14-21-2 Comp.-Att.-Int 11-21-1

313 Total Yards 309

1-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1

5-50 Penalty Yards 8-60

First Quarter

PR — Mike Merhaut 12 pass from Ben DiNucci (Ben Engel kick), 6:24

SV — Mason Dehart 4 run (Chad Izenas run), :56

Second Quarter

PR — Engel 29 field goal, 9:55

SV — Eric Mrkonja 18 pass from T.J. Holl (Izenas kick), 2:59

PR — D'ondre Gastion 29 pass from DiNucci (Chris Szelong pass from DiNucci), :51

SV — Mrkonja 54 pass from Holl (Izenas kick), :14

Third Quarter

PR — Jake Leone 1 interception return (Engel kick), 7:45

Fourth Quarter

SV — Dehart 1 run (Izenas kick), 11:03

SV — Mike Smith 19 fumble return (Izenas kick), 10:21

SV — Dehart 33 run (Izenas kick), 4:57

Individual Statistics

Rushing: Seneca Valley, Mason Dehart 14-81, T.J. Holl 14-22, Dom DiTommaso 10-28, Sam Henson 3-7, Team 1-(-2). Pine-Richland, Connor Slomka 28-155, Brendan Burnham 4-23, Mike Merhaut 1-(-2), Ben DiNucci 5-(-18), Team 1-(-2).

Passing: Seneca Valley, T.J. Holl 13-20-162-2, Brad Hensler 1-1-15-0. Pine-Richland, Ben DiNucci 11-21-153-1.

Receiving: Seneca Valley, Mason Dehart 4-16, Dom DiTommaso 2-21, Brad Hensler 1-31, T.J. Holl 1-2, Eric Mrkonja 2-72, Max Cicero 2-12, Mike Smith 1-15, Brandan Clough 1-8. Pine-Richland, Mike Merhaut 5-66, D'ondre Gastion 5-68, Anthony Battaglia 1-19.