GREENE – Greene’s offense didn’t have much of an opportunity to shine in the first half.
And it didn’t have to.
The Trojans’ special teams were just that – special – scoring on two punt returns and setting up a third score on another long return in a dominant 43-0 win over Susquehanna Valley Friday night.
It was the fourth shutout in 11 games for Greene, Class C finalists a season ago, who did not allow a Sabers first down until the second half, and only two chain-movers the entire game.
“It was definitely a good effort to start the season like that, but we still have some things to work on,” said Greene 10th-year head coach, Tim Paske. “But how can you complain when you’re up 30-0 at halftime?”
True words, indeed. Lane Whittaker set up Greene’s first score of the day returning a SV punt 39 yards to the Sabers six. Only a saving tackle by punter Tyriece Brown kept Greene out of the endzone.
Brown’s tackle only delayed the inevitable as Mike Beckwith rumbled in for the score, the first of his two rushing scores on the day.
One possession later, Sus Valley’s punt from Brown took a high bounce in front of Whittaker. The Trojans senior was quickly off to the races down the right sideline, and scurried 56 yards to up the lead to two scores.
Early in the second quarter, Sus Valley’s special teams kicked to returner Dan Treadwell, but the results were much the same. Treadwell needed to make one elusive cutback at the SV 15 before racing into the endzone for yet another Greene TD. Late in the first half, Greene completed its only sustained drive of the first half – 83 yards on eight plays – with Beckwith completing the salvo from 35 yards out. Beckwith shrugged off a would-be tackler near the 20-yard line upping to lead to 30 points. Beckwith finished with a game-high 90 yards on just 11 totes.
“Special teams are a real big key, and we tell the kids that it is one-third of the game,” Paske said. “We set up for the return, and I like the guys we have back there. If we are able to set up the return…hey, it’s nice if you score without the offense on the field. That’s pretty nice.”
Greene’s offense finally got on track late in the third quarter, and reserve running back Joel Roselle capped the day’s scoring with TD runs of two and 21 yards in the fourth quarter. After a slow start, the Trojans finished with 242 yards rushing on 40 carries.
“We definitely wanted to establish the run because we have a tough, physical opponent next week in Walton that will come right at us,” Paske said. “We’ll have to shore up some things next week, but we’ll be ready for them.”
NOTES: Greene had three touchdowns called back on penalties, one was the kickoff to start the second half....Both of Susquehanna Valley’s first downs came on the same drive. The Sabers finished with just 52 yards of total offense and just one play from scrimmage that went for more than 10 yards.
Score by quarters
SVall 0 0 0 0—0
Gre. 14 16 0 13—43
Scoring Summary
G: Mike Beckwith 6 run (kick failed)
G: Lane Whittaker 56 punt return (Beckwith run)
G: Dan Treadwell 43 punt return (Beckwith run)
G: Mike Beckwith 35 run (Trevor Parrish run)
G: Joel Roselle 2 run kick failed)
G: Roselle 21 run (Alex Kozisky kick)
Team Summary
SV G
First downs 2 11
Rushes-yds 33-42 40-242
Passing yds 10 4
Comp-att-int 5-11-1 3-6-0
Punts-avg 7-35 4-33.5
Fumbles-lost 6-3 2-0
Penalties-yds 5-30 5-45
Individual Statistics
Rushing: (SV) Troy Anderson, 8-17; Marc Yezzi, 5-15; Jimmy Mitchell, 4-14; Teddy Storti, 2-7; Tyreice Brown, 4-5; Jake Hawley, 2-2; Vince Lamantia, 8- (-18). (G) Mike Beckwith, 11-90; Dan Treadwell, 7-55; Joel Roselle, 8-45; Trevor Parrish, 8-43; Cole Browning, 1-11; Dan Dickman, 1-9; Joe Beckwith, 4- (-11).
Passing: (SV) Lamantia, 5-11-1, 10 yds; (G) J. Beckwith, 3-6-0, 4 yds.
Receiving: (SV) T. Brown, 2-17; Brandon Edwards, 1-(-1); Jason Fiorentino, 1-(-3); T Anderson, 1-(-3).