Steady Stadelmyer helps guide Girard

The Indians ground out a
34-0 victory over Campbell.

By JIM FLICK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

GIRARD — Girard’s defense stymied Campbell Memorial from start to finish, while the Indians’ merciless offensive assault was led by junior running back Kyle Stadelmyer, who gained 199 yards on 32 carries and scored four touchdowns in a 34-0 victory over the Red Devils Friday night.

But Stadelmyer wasn’t the only weapon wielded by the Indians. Sophomore Tallen Birmingham contributed 43 yards on eight carries and scored a fifth touchdown for the Indians, while junior Dan Gainey added 19 yards on four carries, and quarterback Adam Charles completed 4-of-10 passes for 60 yards.

Girard’s (1-1) offense gained 316 yards, compared to only 118 yards for Campbell Memorial (0-2).

Campbell Memorial was led by sophomore quarterback Darrio Bivens, who struggled to gain 31 yards in 10 carries and complete 7-of-16 passes for 73 yards. Senior John Turner carried the ball five times to gain just 19 yards and senior Maurise Kerns ran the ball eight times for a mere 6 yards. Two other running backs totaled negative yards.

Strong defense

Girard’s defense repeatedly held Campbell Memorial backs for short gains or threw them for losses. In fact, Campbell Memorial’s offense was held without a first down until just 35 seconds remained in the first half and totaled just five by the time the last whistle sounded.

“Our guys made a great defensive effort,” Girard coach Bud McSuley said.

McSuley added that his team’s offensive line also turned in an outstanding effort. “Our line did a nice job. Kyle saw some holes.”

Stadelmyer put the first points on the scoreboard, when he scored touchdowns on 4- and 10-yard runs in the first quarter. Birmingham spelled Stadelmyer in the second quarter, when he scampered 9 yards into the end zone to boost Girard’s halftime margin to 20-0.

“We just decided to give Kyle a rest,” McSuley said, explaining his decision to rotate his running backs in the first half.

Stadelmyer gained 82 yards on 15 carries in the first half.

In the third quarter, Stadelmyer scored a touchdown on a 1-yard smash into the end zone to give Girard a 27-0 lead.

Campbell Memorial’s frustration erupted on the ensuing kickoff, when a fight broke out on the field and the officials ejected a Red Devil player from the game.

Stadelmyer scampered 6 yards into the end zone in the fourth quarter for the final margin of victory.

As the game drew near the end, Campbell Memorial shifted the athletic Bivens to receiver and brought in a backup quarterback. But the substitute quarterback couldn’t find Bivens among the tenacious Girard defenders, and completed only 1-of-4 passes for 3 yards.