By Bob Evans
Sports Editor
November 16, 2009
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| Hornet senior wide receiver Steven Dishong (86) scored Malvern’s first touchdown on an end around. He also scored the Hornets’ second touchdown on a 56-yard pass play from quarterback Doug Wood. Malvern defeated Bridgeport 31-9 to advance to the Division VI regional final this Satur day night in Zanesville. |
STEUBENVILLE - The Malvern Hornets scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to break open a close game to advance to the regional finals with a 31-9 win over Bridgeport in the Division VI regional semifinals at Harding Stadium last Saturday night.
It will be the second straight regional final for the Hornets. Malvern will play Grove City Christian Saturday night at Sulsberger Stadium in Zanesville at 7 p.m.
Grove City, 10-2, defeated Shadyside 27-14 last Saturday afternoon to advance to the finals.
The win improves the Hornets to 11-1 for the year, while the Bulldogs end a fine season at 10-2
“It is great to get back there,” said Malvern head coach Dave Tucci, “We’ll take it. This is a great accomplishment for our team.”
Senior wide receiver Steven Dishong came up big for the Hornets as he scored Malvern’s first two touchdowns to keep the Hornets in the game.
Dishong scored on a 15-yard run in the first quarter and then hauled in a perfect 56-yard bomb in stride from senior quarterback Doug Wood with just seconds left before halftime.
“We don’t throw to him much,” said Tucci. “That was a big play, Doug (Wood) hit him with a perfect pass and it was a perfectly executed play.”
Bridgeport scored the first touchdown of the game on a 27-yard run by junior Garrett Price, but failed to convert the extra points attempt. Following Dishong’s touchdown, the Bulldogs got the lead back at 9-8 on a 39-yard field goal by Ward Bello with 55-seconds left in the half.
Bridgeport tried an onside kick, which was recovered by the Hornets at own 44-yard line. One play later, Wood went to Dishong for the touchdown. Wood then ran for the two-point conversion and a 16-9 halftime lead.
Both teams had long drives in the third quarter, but couldn’t get into the endzone. Malvern was stopped on downs on the Bulldogs’ six-yardline and the Bulldogs drove deep into Hornet territory, but a holding penalty stopped the drive.
“That holding call was big,” said Bridgeport head coach Rudy Vavrock. “We had the momentum and were driving, but I guess that is football.”
Malvern took over at its own 33 yardline and drove 67-yards in 10 plays with Wood scoring from four yards out. Wood then hit Travis Tucci for the two-point conversion and a 24-9 advantage.
Malvern scored again on a 12-yard run by senior Maurice Johnson. The touchdown was set up by a Wood interception of a Cole Smelley pass on the Bulldogs’ first play following Wood’s touchdown run.
The Hornet defense held what Coach Tucci called a four-head monster, Chris Smelley, Garrett Price, Cole Smelley and Curtis Smelley in check for most of the night.
“I thought our defense played great tonight,” Tucci said. “We didn’t give up the big play. When they broke some of those 10-15 yard runs we got them on the ground.”
Bridgeport suffered a big blow on its third play from scrimmage when Chris Smelley, their leading rusher, suffered an ankle injury and didn’t return to the game. Chris Smelley was coming off a 200-yard plus game against Tuscarawas Central Catholic in their first playoff game.
Vavrock said losing him was a big loss.
“We had to patch things together all night long,” he said. “I don’t believe in making excuses, but that did hurt us.”
“We had a great season, we hosted our first playoff game and we won it. I just feel bad for our seniors.”
Johnson led the Hornets on the ground with 93 yards on 15 attempts and Wood added 44 yards on 15 carries. Wood had a solid night passing the ball as he hit 5-of-8 passes for 90 yards.
Price led the Bulldogs with 67 yards on 10 carries and Curt Smelley carried the ball 16 times for 47 yards. Passing, Cole Smelley hit 7-of-15 passes for 74 yards and two interceptions.
SCORING
BRIDGEPORT: 6 3 0 0 - 9
MALVERN: 8 8 0 15 – 31
FIRST QUARTER
Bridgeport - Garrett Price 27-yard run (kick failed)
Malvern - Steven Dishong 15-yard run (Doug Wood run)
SECOND QUARTER
Bridgeport - Ward Bello 39-yard field goal
Malvern - Steven Dishong 56-yard pass from Doug Wood (Maurice Johnson run)
FOURTH QUARTER
Malvern - Doug Wood 4-yard run (Doug Wood pass to Travis Tucci)
Malvern - Maurice Johnson 12-yard run (Eric Hain kick)
STATISTICS
RUSHING: Bridgeport - 36-140, Malvern - 36-180. PASSING: Bridgeport - 7-16-74-2, Malvern - 5-8-90. TOTAL YARDS: Bridgeport - 212, Malvern - 270. FIRST DOWN: Bridgeport 11, Malvern 14. PENALTIES: Bridgeport - 3-31, Malvern - 4-20. FUMBLES/FUMBLES LOST: Bridgeport 3-0, Malvern - 0-0. Records: Bridgeport 10-2, Malvern 11-1. |
