SOUTHINGTON Agresta, Triplett big names for Youngstown Christian

With its third win in four road games, the Eagles are 5-2, 3-1.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SOUTHINGTON -- Aaron Agresta passed for 214 yards and three touchdowns Saturday as the Youngstown Christian Eagles rolled to a 34-12 victory over Southington in East Suburban Conference football action.
Randy Triplett rushed for 117 yards as the Eagles racked up 482 yards of total offense and held the Wildcats to 250 total yards, 145 coming after intermission.
With their third win in four road outings, the Eagles improved to 5-2, 3-1.
"This wasn't an easy victory today. Southington came out to play and for a half pretty much held us in check," Eagles coach Eddy Witham said. "We started quick, but late in the first half didn't finish some drives and it cost us.
Finds open receivers
"Agresta had an excellent game for us today," Witham said. "He stepped it up a notch and found our open receivers with big plays, something that he has been doing all season long.
"We're just a second-year program and it has been night and day from a season ago," Witham said. "Credit our staff and the players for that turnaround as they worked hard in the off-season in both the weight room and with conditioning, and continue to prepare each and every week like it is for the league crown."
Aaron Tate got the Eagles on the board first with a 12-yard run at the 6:40 mark of the opening quarter. The placekick was blocked to keep the score 6-0.
Agresta then found Eddie Gonda with the first of his three touchdown tosses. Jared Van Arsdale's extra-point kick extended the lead to 13-0.
Tom Harklerode, one of just two seniors on the Wildcats' roster, scored from a yard out midway through the second quarter for a 13-6 score at halftime.
"We are a very young team, relying on nine freshman from our 22-man roster to start for us," Wildcats (0-7, 0-4) coach Ed Anthony said. "Of our seven games played thus far, we have been within a touchdown of our opponents no less than five times at halftime.
Still enthusiastic
"We made some mistakes in the second half today that hurt us, but this team continues to work hard, Anthony said. "Being 0-7 is frustrating for both the coaches and players, but it has not diminished anyone's enthusiasm. They still play with a tremendous amount of intensity."
Agresta teamed with wide receiver David Colbert at the 5:42 mark of the third quarter as the Eagles built a 20-6 advantage.
Toba Olarewayu scored from 33 yards out at 0:19 for a 26-6 advantage.
Agresta connected with Tate for a 40-yard strike as the Eagles increased their lead to 34-6.
Wildcats quarterback Andy Forrest added a 5-yard scamper with 4:26 left in the game to round out the scoring.
The Eagles had 268 yards on the ground and added 214 passing yards, limiting Southington to 136 ground yards and 114 through the air.
Tate finished with 102 yards on 12 carries.
Harklerode led Southington with 58 yards on 18 carries.