Mt. Pleasant springs to life in 2nd half to get past Greensburg Salem

By: Ted Sarneso
Friday, October 4, 2024 | 10:38 PM

The first half of the Class 3A Interstate Conference matchup between Mt. Pleasant and Greensburg Salem was the epitome of a sleeper.

Neither team could get much of anything going through the air and did limited damage on the ground. The Vikings amassed 141 total yards in the first half and the Lions only mustered 82.

But both teams put on a fireworks display that would put Zambelli to shame in the second half as the Lions put up 244 yards of offense and the Vikings had 250.

After a scoreless first half, the teams accounted for seven total touchdowns in the final 16 minutes of a 28-21 Mt. Pleasant win at Offutt Field in Greensburg.

“We were each trying to figure out what the other was doing in that first half,” said Greensburg Salem coach Tyler George. “We were both in a standstill. Took until the second half for everybody to get things figured out.”

“I give them credit,” said Vikings coach Jason Fazekas. “They’re a good team and they’re coached up right. We had some tough going. We were moving the ball; we just couldn’t finish when we were down near the goal line. We were frustrated to not score when we were inside the 10-yard line.”

The first quarter had its fair share of action as on consecutive drives, Mt Pleasant (4-3, 2-0) passed on a field goal and turned it over on downs just to have Greensburg Salem give the ball back as Vikings DB Richard Shawley picked off Golden Lions QB Brody Chismar.

The Vikings then drove for another field goal, but it was blocked and recovered by the Lions.

Both teams ran the ball from then on out and the first half finished at a brisk 45 minutes of actual time.

With 10 seconds left to go in the first half, Mt. Pleasant had third-and-goal on the Lions 3-yard line. Chatfield took the shotgun snap, rolled to his right and found Jacob Kitz wide open in the end zone, but Kitz couldn’t haul in the pass.

The Vikings passed up two chip-shot field goals from Jarett Garn in the first half and tried to punch the ball in, but they didn’t really second guess their decisions.

“Should we have kicked the field goals?” sad Fazekas. “Yeah, probably should have. But we felt we had some plays we could score on and felt they were the right calls.”

Coming out at halftime, Greensburg Salem (4-3, 0-2) produced a 15-play drive that lasted eight minutes. Senior receiver Keegan Young caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Chismar to put up a crooked number on the scoreboard.

“We found some weaknesses in the secondary where we could exploit some quick passes and some formations that would help us run the ball,” said George. “Our kids did a good job of executing.”

Mt. Pleasant answered by driving nine plays in four minutes and quarterback Cole Chatfield found Garret Eicher in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown pass.

“We were pushing the ball, but we just couldn’t finish. It motivated us in the locker room at halftime and we came out looking to put the ball in the end zone,” said Chatfield, who finished the game 9 of 13 passing for 157 yards and a touchdown.

“That’s what we expect from a multi-year starter and tough kid,” said Fazekas. “That’s what you need from a senior leader like that. He had a great second half.”

After Greensburg Salem punted, the Vikings drove down the field again and punched the ball in at the start of the fourth quarter when running back Brody Hutter took the handoff right and found the end zone from 3 yards out to make it 14-7.

Hutter finished the game as the Vikings’ leading rusher with 44 yards on 16 carries and a pair of touchdowns.

“Coming out at halftime, we felt we just had to carry off of what we were doing,” said Fazekas. “We felt we had some good drives; we just had to put some things together.”

The Lions countered with a huge play. Chismar found wideout Dominic Rosensteel open on an 8-yard out. Rosensteel broke a few tackles, then put on the afterburners and went 46 yards for a touchdown.

Chismar finished with 186 yards passing on 19 of 24 attempts, tossed three touchdowns and had the one pick. He also led the Lions with 77 yards rushing.

“They did a good job of bringing pressures, dropping into coverage, and their front guys are pretty good,” said George. “Hats off to them and the defense they have.”

On the ensuing kickoff, Eicher gave Mt. Pleasant the turning point it needed.

He fielded the kickoff at his own 10-yard line, hit the hole hard and when he came out on the other side at the 40, he only had the kicker to beat. He made a juke and was gone for a 90-yard boost for the Vikings and a 21-14 lead.

“That was the turning point of the game. If he doesn’t take that in, I don’t think we win the game,” said Chatfield.

Added Fazekas: “It was huge. You get something like that, it makes all the difference.”

The Lions’ next drive stalled and Mt. Pleasant added an insurance touchdown when Hutter punched in his second score from a yard out.

Greensburg Salem drove the field for the last minute and 45 seconds, scoring on a pass from Chismar to Rosensteel as time expired.

“Offensively, we have to keep finding ways to score. We can’t wait until the second half to ignite our offense,” said George. “We have to get back to the drawing board and continue to work and get it figured out in the first half.”

Tags: Greensburg Salem, Mt. Pleasant