Tornadoes claim EC title

MOUNT CARMEL - There was 90 seconds of flash.

But it takes more than flash to win any championship, and Mount Carmel followed a hectic beginning of the game with 46 minutes of domination along the lines to win its sixth Eastern Conference championship by a 14-7 margin over Hanover Area on Friday.

Playing without leading offensive threat Justin Pellowski, Mount Carmel was still able to run the ball, with Eddy Stewart scoring twice from 37 and eight yards out.

On the first possession of the game, Mount Carmel showed exactly what it was going to do. There were no tricks from head coach Bob Chesney, just running straight ahead.

First with Meyrick Lamb, who finished with 23 yards, then with Tyler Hodge, who finished with 69 yards and finally with Eddy Stewart who took the third play from scrimmage for his first touchdown and wound up with 96 yards rushing before suffering an injury on a punt in the third quarter and never returning.

Cody Shustack, the Tornadoes' fullback also added 28 yards on the ground, and another 26 receiving.

"We obviously had some adversity to get over," Chesney said to start his post-game remarks. "All you guys were wondering where 21 (Pellowski) was. We had a little situation that was an infraction of a team rule, and I'm the type of guy, you can tell by the haircut and tie, that will enforce team rules. It's the most important thing that we have in order to build a team.

"The young guys picked up the slack and made things happen. The offensive lineman gave our little guys a lot of room in order to make some big plays."

The first drive, according to Chesney was completely scripted, but what wasn't in the notes was what happened when the Tornadoes kicked off.

Hanover Area's Tomas Cabrera, his team's leading receiver and all-around threat, fielded the kick at his own 10-yard line, broke a tackle or two and outraced several Tornadoes for a 90-yard score to tie the game at the 10:31 mark of the first quarter.

"That first drive, we had it all charted," Chesney said. "I told Jose (Gonzalo, the team's statistician) that we were going to have 50 yards after the first three plays. He looked at me going up to play No. 3 and said, 'It looks like you're going to need about 30 or so,' and then Eddy took it in all the way and that was perfect.

"And then they get that kickoff return... and jiminy crickets."

For the remainder of the game, Mount Carmel moved the ball steadily, including an 8-minute, 16-play drive that covered 83 yards and resulted in what was ultimately the game-winning score by Stewart.

From there on out Mount Carmel's defense shined. Besides earning a 60-yard run by Cabrera on the first play of the second half, the Hawkeyes couldn't manufacture much offense and only managed three first downs in the second half.

"The boys didn't fold, they didn't give up and that kickoff is the only points they got. That's a testament to our defense," Chesney said.

"We've been in the situation where we've been worn down at times, but our kids had too much pride tonight."

Hanover's leading rusher Mike Redick managed only 21 yards on the ground as his line couldn't open rushing lanes against the Tornadoes' defense.

"Their front line dominated our line," Hanover Area head coach Rob Hummer said. "Whether it was that our guys were tired, we had a couple guys hurt. Give them credit, they concerned me all week and it showed in the game."

The Tornadoes' offense held the ball for over 13 minutes again in the second half to cap an up-and-down season that most definitely ends up for Mount Carmel.

"We congratulate the seniors for picking up the slack for the 25 that graduated last year," Chesney said. "People didn't give us a chance to do anything. I don't know what they thought we would win...Our kids responded and ended up with seven victories and that's marvellous."

And for the juniors, sophomores and freshmen on Mount Carmel, preparing for next season has already begun.

"Tomorrow," Hodge said. "We're going to get in the weight room tomorrow to get ready for the first day of doubles."

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