Raiders surge past Hempfield
JACKSON TWP — While Seneca Valley's defense was dominant from the start of the game, it took the offense a while to catch up.
Once it did, however, the Raiders' path to the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals was a clear one.
Trailing Hempfield 3-0, SV scored 22 points in the span of just six minutes and 40 seconds of the second quarter en route to a 36-10 victory Friday night at NexTier Stadium.
Seneca (9-1) will next face Woodland Hills, a 35-14 winner over Pine-Richland, next Friday at a site to be determined.
After their first three possessions ended in two fumbles and a turnover on downs, the Raiders set up shop at Hempfield's 18 when Brandan Clough recovered a fumble following a bad snap on a punt.
Five plays later, Brad Hensler scored on a 6-yard run.
SV's defense then forced back-to-back three-and-outs, leading to Eric Mrkonja's 6-yard scoring run and T.J. Holl's 31-yard touchdown pass to Hensler, respectively, and the Raiders led 22-3.
“On film, Hempfield showed multiple looks on defense,” said Raiders coach Don Holl. “Sometimes, it takes you a while to see all the things they are showing you.”
Hempfield (6-4) managed its best drive of the game late in the second quarter, marching 73 yards in 12 plays. The series was kept alive when quarterback Ty George hit Jay Flock for 15 yards on a fourth-and-5 from SV's 24. George capped the drive by catching a 3-yard scoring pass from Dan Walters and the Spartans trailed 22-10 at halftime.
Any momentum the Spartans gained from the scoring drive was lost on SV's first possession of the third quarter. The hosts drove 86 yards, with Holl completing four passes for 66 yards, and Hensler scored his third touchdown of the night, this time on a 3-yard run with 8:40 remaining in the third period.
Hensler played much of the regular season as a slot receiver. But due to an injury to halfback Mason Dehart, he has been thrust into SV's ground game. He responded with 63 yards rushing Friday, while adding five receptions for 68 yards.
“It's a bit of a change for me,” said Hensler of his new role, “but I was coached up this week. It feels great to perform well, but I don't want to take all the credit. We have a few injuries and guys have stepped up.”
Meanwhile, the Raiders' defense made the night miserable for Hempfield senior tailback Joey DeFloria, who gained 1,300 yards on the ground in the regular season. At one point Friday, DeFloria had minus-6 yards on 13 carries. He ended the game with just 30 yards on 18 attempts.“There's not much room to run on Seneca Valley,” said Hempfield coach Rich Bowen. “They have a very good defensive line.”SV's defense had to step up early on. A bad shotgun snap was recovered by the Spartans at SV's 18-yard line early in the first quarter.Three plays yielded just 3 yards, however, and John Domit's 32-yard field goal try sailed wide.The Spartans recovered another fumble moments later, but SV's defense forced another field goal attempt, this one sailed through the uprights from 43 yards.“Facing a team like Seneca Valley, we needed 14 points out of those two drives after the turnovers,” said Bowen. “We needed to capitalize on that.”“Our defense set the tone early,” said Coach Holl. “Those two series said a lot about the way the game was going to go. (Hempfield) couldn't protect their quarterback and they couldn't run the ball.”T.J. Holl threw for 271 yards in the win and rushed for 113 more.
