Nine Is Fine For Tigers

Garcia brothers combined for 238 in state final

BY DANIEL LIPOVSKY

Fourth Quarter Media

HERSHEY — The Southern Columbia Tigers claimed a PIAA record ninth state championship after defeating Wilmington 49-14 on Friday afternoon.

The Tigers were led by Gaige Garcia and Gavin Garcia’s ability to accumulate yards on the ground. Both brothers eclipsed 100 yards in the game and were the only Tigers to find the end zone.

Gaige Garcia picks up a first down as he is brought down by Wilmington's Junior McConahy (21). Photo by Ethan Brodie

Junior Gaige Garcia led the team with 19 carries for 134 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He also added a 32-yard touchdown reception with one second remaining in the second quarter to tie the game going into halftime.

“Absolutely, huge momentum changer,” Gavin Garcia said of his brother’s score. “Any point when you’re down in the game and then you score a touchdown to tie it up like he did. We used that as motivation to come out the second half and take care of business.”

This was only the second time all year the Tigers were tied at any point in the third quarter.

“We weren’t playing our football and the scoreboard showed that,” Gaige Garcia said.

After slow starts, both of the Garcia brothers got on track and Gavin Garcia contributed 104 yards on seven carries along with two touchdowns. The Tigers generated 331 yards on the ground as a team.

Southern running back Gavin Garcia escapes from Wilmington safety Robert Pontius. Photo by Ethan Brodie

“Can’t really explain it,” Gavin Garcia said. “It’s just in the moment, you’re just doing everything you can to make the guys miss.”

Southern Columbia shut out the Greyhounds in the second half after struggling to stop Wilmington’s sustained drives in the first half. The Tigers held Wilmington to just eight first downs with the Greyhounds only earning two in the second half.

“Our defense was not really playing up to their par in the first half,” quarterback Stone Hollenbach said. “Second half they came out, didn’t let them score a point.”

The play of defensive back Shane Miller also helped propel the Tigers.

He picked off Greyhounds quarterback Robert Pontus twice in the second half.

“I knew they were going to come out and try and pass because they had success,” Miller said. “So I just stuck with my receiver and jumped his route.”

In Hollenbach’s last high school football game, he completed 11 of 16 for 132 yards and a clutch touchdown to Gaige Garcia just prior to the end of the first half.

“That was the biggest play of the game I think,” Hollenbach said. “To get a touchdown before the half and tie it up and really go into halftime with momentum and that was really I think the deciding factor in this game.”

Stone Hollenbach holds the state title trophy next to his teammates. Photo by Brad Wydra

Hollenbach ended his high school career with two consecutive state titles and a 42-1 record.

“To go out as a senior, on top, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Hollenbach said.

Hollenbach was able to connect with wide reciever Julian Fleming six times but Fleming only managed to gain 31 yards on his receptions. Fleming was mostly involved in the short passing game and did not have success down the field against the Greyhounds. However, Fleming called his own number and converted a key fourth down with a 19-yard run on a fake punt.

“I’m thinking thats a good idea,” Southern head coach Jim Roth said. “Especially when he ran around the edge.”

Southern Columbia 0 14 14 21 — 49

Wilmington 0 14 0 0 — 14

Second quarter

W - Ethan Susen 2 run (kick failed),10:22

SC- Gaige Garcia 5 run (Ethan Dunkelberger kick), 6:59

W - Cameron Marett 13 pass from Robert Pontius (Susen pass from Pontius), 1:28

SC - Gai. Garcia 32 pass from Stone Hollenbach (Dunkelberger kick) 0:01

Third quarter

SC - Gai. Garcia 26 run (Dunkelberger kick), 4:46

SC - Gai. Garcia 37 pass from Hollenbach (Dunkelberger kick), 0:04

Fourth quarter

SC - Gavin Garcia 38 run (Dunkelberger kick), 11:44

SC - Gai. Garcia 18 run (Dunkelberger kick), 8:49

SC - Gav. Garcia 33 run (Dunkelberger kick) 4:35

SC W

First Downs 22 8

Rush-Yds 41-294 36-168

Com-Att-Int 11-16-0 5-13-2

Pass 169 84

Total-Yds 463 252

Penalty-yds. 5-45 4-20

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1

OFFENSIVE STATISTICS

Rushing - Southern: Gaige Garcia 19-134, 3 TDs; Gavin Garcia 7-104, 2 TDs; Julian Fleming 1-19; Stone Hollenbach 4-17; Ty Roadarmel 7-16; Jayden McCormick 1-4; Brandon Gedman 1-0; Braden Heim 1-0. WIlmington: Robert Pontius 10-73; Noah Hunt 4-56; Cameron Marett 13-35, Ethan Susen 8-4, TD; Caelen Bender 1-0.

Passing - Southern: Stone Hollenbach 12-16-0 169 yds; TD. Wilmington: Robert Pontius : 5-13-2 84 yds, TD.

Recieving - Southern: Julian Fleming 6-31; Preston Zachman 4-69; Gaige Garcia 2-69, 2 TD. Wilmington: Cameron Marett 2-47, TD; Ethan Susen 2-14; Jacob Yohman 1-23.

DEFENSIVE STATISTICS

Southern Columbia

Solo Asst Total

Max Tillet 9 4 13

Cal Haladay 7 2 9

Lear Quinton 4 0 4

Cade Linn 5 0 5

Nate Crowl 5 0 5

Preston Zachman 4 0 4

Wade Kerstetter 2 0 2

Owyne Pursel 1 0 1

Julian Fleming 1 0 1

Payton Pursel 1 0 1

Shane Miller 1 0 1

Robert Williams 1 0 1

Ty Roadarmel 1 0 1

Cole Schankweiler 1 0 1

Wade Kerstetter 1 0 1

Nate Kearney 1 0 1

Nick Zeigler 1 0 1

Jake Davis 1 0 1

Interception: Shane Miller (2). Forced fumbles: Jake Davis. Fumble Recovery: Jake Davis. Tackles-for-loss: Max Tillet (2); Cal Haladay; Lear Quninton; Preston Zachman; Cole Schankweiler.

Wilmington

Solo Asst Total

Colton Richards 8 2 10

Shane Cox 8 2 10

Cameron Marett 7 0 7

Noah Hunt 7 0 7

Jordan Gray 4 0 4

Alex Ramirez 4 0 4

Ethan Susen 2 1 3

Robert Pontius 2 0 2

Junior McConahy 2 0 2

Jacob Yohman 1 0 1

James Reed 1 0 1

Garret Gath 1 0 1

Forced fumbles: Noah Hunt. Fumble recovers: Colton Richards. Tackles-for-loss: Colton Richards.