HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Defense dominates in Rocket's shutout win
Lowellville forced six Crestview turnovers.
LOWELLVILLE -- Crestview High came to Paul Menechini Field Saturday night depleted from a week of battling the flu, but the only way the Rebels came up short on the field was with six turnovers, including four in the second half, of the Rockets' 13-0 victory.
Midway through the second quarter, senior Buddy Dorney recovered a fumble at the Lowellville 44, which set up the Rockets' 56-yard, 13-play drive that ended when senior quarterback Jack Noble scored from 1 yard out. David Carnahan's kick gave the Rockets a 7-0 halftime lead.
Two big plays on the drive were 13 and 9 yard passes from Noble to senior tight end Mike Nolfi. Noble also ran for 17 yards on the drive and Jeff Peterson rushed for 18.
Missed chances
The second half belonged to the Rebels in every way but on the scoreboard. The had two scoring opportunities go awry; in the third quarter Crestview marched from its 37 to the Lowellville 5, but a 27-yard field goal attempt was short.
Crestview's defense held and the Rebels had the ball at their 48. Jordan Reynolds, a sophomore quarterback completed a pass to Jason Beachler inside the Lowellville 20, but as Beachler turned to run he dropped the football, and Lowellville's Peterson recovered.
Crestview held again, but Reynolds was intercepted by Bryan Meehan at the Rockets 28, and he returned the ball to the Crestview 15.
On the first play from scrimmage, with 3:09 remaining in the game, Peterson ran for the touchdown. Peterson ran for 52 yards on 11 carries and Noble, who was 4-of-6 passing for 39 yards with an interception added 36 yards on the ground, on 11 carries, as the Rockets' total offense was only 147 yards, to 232 for Crestview.
Crestview had 12 first downs to Lowellville's 7 as their sophomore quarterback, Reynolds, was 10 of 21 for 98 yards with three interceptions.
David Myers, a junior, led the Rebels on the ground with 70 yards on eight carries.
Tremendous defense
"Our offense couldn't get untracked against their swarming defense, but our defense was tremendous," said Lowellville's first-year coach, Cliff Jamieson, who singled out Mile Nolfi, who had four tackles for loss in the first quarter. Jamieson also singled out Meehan, Steve Carchedi, Dustin Socie and Steve Piciaro.
"Those guys were all over the field making big hits at the right time," said Jamieson, "but we always knew our defense could do the job, now we have to get our offense going."
Crestview coach Paul Cusick said the team's battle with illness was a setback.
"We definitely had opportunities to win, but the lack of game style practice due to illness this week definitely hurt us," he said.
"We are young and we will have growing pains this season and with our sophomore quarterback Jordan Reynolds who is a very exciting performer, but if we can profit from mistakes made against a very good Lowellville team, this could be a team that surprises some people this season."