Dawgs oust Tigers
ANDY MATSKO/TIMES - SHAMROCK PHOTOS Tri-Valley quarterback Matt McGinley (13) eludes the pressure of Southern Coiumbia's David Jeremiah (68) and Tom Schetroma (79) during PIAA Class A state playoff action Friday night at Rotary Field in Schuylkill Haven.
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Tri-Valley's rowdy fans rose to their feet in the bleachers.
Right on cue, the Dawgs defense rose to the occasion.
Jake Townsend's desperation fourth-down pass fell harmlessly to the Rotary Field turf.
Ten years later, Tri-Valley has its victory over Southern Columbia.
The Dawgs used a punishing ground attack behind Wyatt Straub and a veteran offensive line, and the defense made just enough stops to lift Tri-Valley into the PIAA Class A semifinals with a thrilling 35-32 victory over Southern Columbia in the state quarterfinals Friday night.
The victory lifts Tri-Valley into the Eastern Final next Friday or Saturday when the Dawgs will face either District 6 champ Bishop McCort or District 3 titlist and Twin Valley Conference rival Millersburg.
"We challenged our offensive line," Tri-Valley coach Mike Kogut said. "We said we needed to run the ball a little more."
Ten years after Tri-Valley fell 29-22 to Southern Columbia in the Eastern Final, Straub gained 171 yards on 21 carries - 102 coming after the break - to lead a Tri-Valley offense that rushed for 280 yards and gained 446 total yards.
"I never thought we would have that many problems defensively," Southern coach Jim Roth said. "When you're on your heels like that, it's gonna be tough."
Trailing 17-7 after the Tigers (9-5) drove right down the field to start the second half, Tri-Valley answered with 21 consecutive points, turning the game into a shootout.
"I felt good at that point when it was 17-7," Roth said. "I thought we had momentum there. Whatever momentum we had, we lost."
Tri-Valley (10-4) went 68 yards in five plays with fullback Brandon Auman going the final 32 yards to pull the Dawgs within 17-14.
It was a switch to more of an option attack by the Dawgs at halftime that helped turn the tide of the game.
"Credit to our staff," Kogut said. "We thought at halftime we could run the option. I thought we had them confused."
From there, the Dawgs defense forced three consecutive three-and-outs by Southern, helping the offense put them on top 28-17 with 8:40 left in the game.
The Dawgs used quick strikes to pull ahead, going on a six-play, 65-yard march capped by a 1-yard sneak by quarterback Matt McGinley and a five-play, 74-yard drive finished by a 15-yard McGinley keeper on an option.
"We've always had option in our game," McGinley said. We've been running it the last couple weeks."
Southern used a big kickoff return by Tim Benner to set up a two-play scoring drive as Jake Morton went 40 yards to make it 28-24 with 7:54 left. Benner finished with 302 all-purpose yards, including six kickoff returns for 174 yards.
However, Tri-Valley answered and took 4 minutes, 3 seconds off the clock.
The Dawgs got chunks of yards from Straub, who despite his small stature at times carried three and four Southern defenders. That was only when the 5-foot-9, 170-pound back wasn't burning the Tigers to the outside with his speed.
"I'm just giving it my all," Straub said. "I know it was a huge game.
"I gotta give a lot of credit to the offensive line. It all starts up front."
The Dawgs finished that drive by going play-action as McGinley hit a wide-open Bryn Bowman for a 21-yards score.
"Play-action was the right call there," McGinley said. "Their corner went out on (Matt) Hepler and Bryn was wide open."
McGinley finished 6-of-15 for 166 yards and two scores, the other going to Hepler on a 43-yard screen pass for the first score of the game.
Southern didn't go away, striking quickly again on just two plays after another big return by Benner.
Morton went 30 yards on the first play, and Townsend hit Benner for a 25-yard strike. Morton added the 2-point conversion run to pull the Tigers within 35-32.
After a penalty allowed Southern to retry an onside kick, Matt Moore, who also blocked a Tri-Valley field goal in the second quarter, recovered with 3:11 left.
The Tigers drove from their own 48 to Tri-Valley's 24 before a holding penalty pushed them back eight yards.
Southern could only manage a 4-yard completion, spiked the ball and an incompletion on fourth down to close out the game.
"It comes down to kids making plays," Kogut said, "and our kids made plays tonight.
"We are still playing, and not a lot of people thought we'd still be here."
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