By Bob Evans
Sports Editor
November 23, 2009
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| Malvern offensive lineman Brett Lee protects quarterback Doug Wood by blocking two Grove City rushers, Dylan Blythe (80) and Jaymie Barns (47), in the Division VI regional final game last Saturday night at Zanesville. |
ZANESVILLE - Another great season came to an end for the Malvern Hornets football team last Saturday night.
Grove City Christian turned three second quarter Malvern turnovers into 20 points and then held off a spirited second half comeback by the Hornets to capture the Division VI regional championship 20-8 at Sulsberger Stadium.
The Hornets, who were the defending regional champions, finish their season with a record of 11-2.
In the last two seasons, Malvern has a combined record of 24-3.
Malvern was playing without the service of senior running back Maurice Johnson, who had rushed for nearly 1,800 yards and was out with a concussion after getting kicked in the head in the regional semifinal against Bridgeport.
Grove City Christian, only in their fourth year of playing football, improved to 12-1 for the year and will play Norwalk St. Paul (13-0) Saturday night at Ashland in the state semifinal.
“You cannot turn the ball over the way we did and expect to win,” said Malvern head coach Dave Tucci.
“Give them credit (Grove City), when they had the opportunities they took advantage. They took it to us.”
Malvern turned the ball over a total of five times, two pass interceptions, two fumbles and a muffed punt.
Even in defeat, Tucci was proud of the way his Hornets played in the second half.
“The kids never gave up, they battled,” said Tucci. “We came back and made it a game.”
Grove City coach Clyde Lucas said his team made the most of their opportunities.
“They made some mistakes and we were able to cash in,” Lucas said.
For the Eagles, it was a history making night.
“This is only the second time any Grove City team has made the final four. We are proud to represent them,” Lucas said. “We’d really like to make some more history and make it to the championship game.”
The Eagles second-quarter run started when quarterback Christopher Bowman hit running back Jessie Barns with a 53-yard pass. The play capped an eight-play, 95-yard drive set up by the Hornets’ first turnover.
Grove City added two more quick scores, the first a 16-yard run up the middle by backup quarterback Luke Smurthwaite. The Eagles’ last score came on a 17-yard run by Barns. The touchdown was set up by an interception by Smurthwaite.
In the third quarter, the Hornets got things going. They mounted their best drive of the night that ended with Stephen Dishong scoring on a three-yard run with 5:45 left in the period. Senior quarterback Doug Wood passed to senior Tyler Crawford for the two-point conversion.
It would be the Hornets’ last touchdown of the season.
Malvern had two other opportunities, but turned the ball over on downs deep in Grove City territory.
“We had some opportunities, but we didn’t take advantage of them,” Tucci said.
Wood led the Hornets on the ground with 56 yards on 13 carries and Dishong followed with eight carries for 41 yards. Wood hit 11-of-25 passes for 155 yards and two interceptions.
Nick Palleschi was Wood’s favorite target with six catches for 80 yards. Travis Tucci finished with four receptions for 43 yards.
Barns, the Central District Player of the Year, was the workhorse for the Eagles with 100 yards on 30 attempts.
Bowman never completed a pass in the second half and finished 11-of-20 for 112 yards.
SCORING
GROVE CITY CHRISTIAN: 0 20 0 0 - 20
MALVERN: 0 0 8 0 - 8
SECOND QUARTER
Grove City - Jesse Barns 53-yard pass from Christopher Bowman (Derek Vacha kick)
Grove City - Luke Smurthwaite 16-yard run (Derek Vacha kick)
Grove City - Jesse Barns 1-yard run (kick failed)
THIRD QUARTER
Malvern - Steven Dishong 3-yard run (Doug Wood pass to Tyler Crawford)
STATISTICS
RUSHING: Grove City - 42-202, Malvern - 25-107. PASSING: Grove City - 11-20-112, Malvern - 11-25-2-155. TOTAL YARDS: Grove City 314, Malvern 262. FIRST DOWN: Grove City 11, Malvern 13. PENALTIES: Grove City 5-51, Malvern 3-25. FUMBLES/FUMBLES LOST: Grove City 0-0, Malvern 4-3. |
