Tigers keep offensive juggernaut going
By ADAM ROBERTS
Fourth Quarter Media
FRANKLIN TWP. — With so many weapons, Southern Columbia is running out of plays to use them.
The Tigers easily defeated Hughesville, 69-8, and had already hung 55 on the Spartans at half time on 21 plays. By the second quarter, Southern had kept its drives to four plays or less, and scored touchdowns on all five drives during that span except for fumble lost by Gaige Garcia on the first play of the drive.
It was the lone blemish for Gaige Garcia who put up 140 yards on nine carries, including three scores. His brother, Gavin Garcia added 5-114 and another three scores himself.
Five-star wide receiver recruit needed just three catches to break 100 yards before his day was done.
“We have so many weapons on our team,” converted-quarterback Preston Zachman said. “It’s crazy. We could give it to whoever we wanted on one play and they could take it 100 yards, 99 yards. The athletes we have, it makes everyone’s jobs easier. It probably saves kids from injuries because our running backs aren’t getting 30, 40 carries a game. They’re getting like 6, 7, 8 … it keeps them healthy.”
Zachman, normally a receiver and linebacker, was moved to quarterback after Alabama recruit Stone Hollenbach was sidelined with a broken wrist few weeks back.
Zachman, although used sparingly in the passing game, has excelled.
He finished 3 of 5 for 103 yards — all to Fleming — as the Tigers instead called 17 run plays to just five pass plays.
“Preston has done a great job stepping in,” Hollenbach said. “Hadn’t really skipped a beat at all so it’s been exciting to see him.”
Hollenbach is expected back sometime in the next two weeks, and would give the Tigers an added boost as they move through the lull in the schedule of weaker opponents to a tough matchup against Danville next week.
For the starters, they were watching the reserves before the second half even started, which is an accomplishment but can be dangerous for a team if it hasn’t been tested.
Yet, the players have managed to keep their focus.
“To an extent it’s frustrating but also shows the character of our football team,” Fleming said. “The fact that we’re not coming out underestimating anybody. We’re coming out, playing hard football and playing as a team.”
“I think we’re at a good point right here. Everybody’s playing hard. This is where we got to play our best football. This is where we have to peak.”
Fleming’s production hasn’t slowed down either with Zachman at quarterback.
“We came in in stride as soon as he came in,” Fleming said. “That’s been a connection from Raiders up through Junior High.”
Hughesville 0 0 0 7 — 7
Southern Columbia 28 27 7 7 — 69
First quarter
SC - Gavin Garcia 28 run (Ethan Dunkelberger kick), 10:06
SC - Julian Fleming 59 pass from Preston Zachman (Dunkelberger kick), 8:22
SC - Gavin Garcia 53 run (Ethan Dunkelberger kick), 5:28
SC - Gaige Garcia 65 run (Dunkelberger kick), 1:33
Second quarter
SC- Gaige Garcia 12 run (Dunkelberger kick), 10:27
SC - Gavin Garcia 29 run (kick failed), 8:04
SC - Ty Roadarmel 64 run (Dunkelberger kick), 6:43
SC - Gaige Garcia 30 run (Dunkelberger kick), 1:45
Third quarter
SC - Braden Heim 3 run (Dunkelberger kick), 5:27
Fourth quarter
H - Joe Corson 14 run (Carter Marquardt pass from Corson), 4:26
SC - Heim 13 run (Dunkelberger kick), :34
H SC
First Downs 11 20
Rush-Yds 37-116 38-463
Comp-att-int 5-15-1 3-5-0
Passing 60 103
Total yds. 176 568
Penalties 1-37 2-20
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Rushing - Hughesville: Jace Wright 14-51; Colton Yocum 15-36; Carter Marquardt 7-15; Joe Corson 1-14. Southern Columbia: Gaige Garcia 9-140, 3 TDs; Gavin Garcia 5-114, 3 TDs; Ty Roadarmel 2-80, TD; Jayden McCormick 6-60; Braden Heim 11-49, 2 TDs; Wade Kerstetter 4-10; Preston Zachman 1-10.
Passing - Hughesville: Corson 5-15-1, 60 yds. Southern Columbia: Zachman 3-5-0, 103 yds., TD.
Receiving - Hughesville: Wright 3-40; Hunter Laird 1-15; Ryan Swink 1-5. Southern Columbia: Julian Fleming 3-103, TD.
Comments