JV Indians cruise past Joppatowne

CONTINUED FROM COVER the team’s Chick-Fil-A-sponsored game ball, given out in the postgame huddle – was undoubtedly sophomore Chris Dash, a talented wide receiver/defensive back combo player with speed and athleticism to boot.

“I don’t think there’s any kid in the county that can match Chris’ athleticism,” said Mossa when asked about his star skill-po- sition player. “He’s vital to this program.” Dash was sure to make an impact whenever he had the ball in his hands, amassing four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown, along with one carry for 17 yards and another score.

North East benefited from plenty of creativity in the run game, finding success on a handful of end-around plays that the Indians’ speedy receivers were able got his guys back.

“Moving forward, we’re going to be in a lot of games here down the stretch where, if we make the right plays,” Slaughenhoupt said, “we’re going to be successful.”

Even in their absence, however, he was able to find a couple of diamonds in the rough, including sophomore linebacker Garrette Kirby, who earned the game ball in just his second appearance after leading the team in tackles (15), posting six tackles for loss and a sack in the process.

“He’s one of those guys that’s stepped up big time,” Slaughenhoupt said of his sophomore. “Like most of our guys, he comes out and plays hard and gives everything he has. … We’re excited to have him for the rest of this year and for the next two years.” to effortlessly take to the house. That includes the first scoring play of the night, which came on a well-executed end-around deep in Mariners territory that saw sophomore Sebastian Pagliaro take the hand off, glide into the end zone for an 8-yard score and give his team an early 6-0 lead.

Slaughenhoupt and the Indians aim to find their first victory of the season against unblemished Bo Manor (3-0) this Friday, while Joppatowne plays host to Havre de Grace (0-3).

After a failed fake punt by Joppatowne on fourth-and-15 from its own 30-yard-line garnered a measly six yards, North East sophomore running back Mason Boyd pounded in a 4-yard score, followed by a successful two-point conversion, to put the Indians ahead 14-0 with 7:23 to play in the second quarter.

Then, it was time for North East to take it to the air.

Dash, who also scored on an end-around in the third quarter to put the game on ice, was one of the top targets for Indians sophomore quarterback Zach McGough, who spent his birthday carving up the Mariners’ secondary to the tune of 174 yards and two touchdowns, completing 13 of his 24 passes (54%) through the air.

“Zach’s our guy,” said Mossa. “He’s been our guy since last year. I have absolute confidence and faith in Zach. He’s the kid that wants the ball in his hands when we’re winning and he wants the ball in his hands when we’re losing. He rallies the guys together and he’s just a huge asset to our program.”

McGough got off to a slow start against the Mariners, but quickly found his footing in the second quarter, when he finished the half a perfect 7-of-7 for 98 yards and two scores.

Following a stalled Joppatowne drive, McGough marched his team down the field, capping off a near-perfect drive with a 26-yard strike to freshman wide receiver Chace Clark for his first touchdown of the night.

A little over a minute later, North East sophomore Adrian Sadler blocked a Joppatowne punt to put the Indians in prime position to score again before the halftime break, which they did, taking all of one play to do so on a 23-yard catch in the end zone by Dash with a defender draped on his back.

At halftime, the Indians held strong to a 30-0 lead.

As high-powered as North East’s offense looked, however, its defense put on a show of its own. For much of the contest, the Indians’ defensive front made a living in the Mariners’ backfield, racking up seven sacks, including one that came in the Joppatowne end zone for a safety that gave North East its 40-6 lead in the fourth quarter.

“Coach (Pat) Boyd is our defensive coordinator and his game plan is to keep attacking until they stop us,” said Mossa. “I just let him do his thing. Plus, the boys like to call themselves dogs, so Coach wanted to let them eat today.”

The Mariners’ lone score came on the opening drive of the second half, which took up over half of the third quarter and was aided by a drive-saving pass interference call and a pair of gutsy fourth-down conversions en route to the end zone.

But, in the end, it was all North East as the Indians cruised to their streak-snapping victory. However, that doesn’t mean the team got a day off to celebrate. “No days off around here,” said Mossa with a chuckle. “We’ll bring them in tomorrow, have a little post-game stretch, nothing too crazy, then we’ll forget about this game and start a new week on Monday.”

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