New-look Quaker Valley gets same results, shuts out Central Valley in opener
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Saturday, September 1, 2018 | 12:45 AM
Some might be wondering how the Quaker Valley football team would look with 12 new starters and a first-year head coach.
Different Quakers. Same results.
The defending WPIAL and PIAA Class 3A champions started Tri-County West Conference play with a 18-0 win over Central Valley on Friday at Chuck Knox Stadium.
“People didn’t know what exactly we had in the locker room left,” senior Ethan Moore said. “People thought we were cleared out. I think tonight showed last year wasn’t a fluke.”
No. 3-ranked Quaker Valley (1-0, 1-0) has won eight straight games.
Moore was a difference maker at quarterback. After the Kent State baseball recruit came up with an interception, he scored on a 44-yard keeper on the ensuing play. After the Quaker Valley defense made a stop on fourth down, Moore hit Ryan Jackovic on a 39-yard touchdown strike to give his squad a 12-0 first quarter lead.
With less than two minutes until halftime, Moore appeared to score on a 12-yard touchdown run. But the Quakers were called for a hold. Quaker Valley ran the same formation on the ensuing play, and Moore scored on a 25-yard run
“Our line worked really well tonight,” Moore said. “A lot of young guys really stepped up. We expect them to step up, but it’s not always guaranteed.”
Moore finished the game with 183 passing yards and led the team in rushing with 82 yards.
The Warriors (0-2, 0-1) could not convert on several opportunities in the first half. A fumble recovery by Reed FitzSimmons on the Quaker Valley 29-yard line in the first quarter ended with four plays and no points.
On a Central Valley drive inside the red zone, Jesse Shivley fumbled the ball after a 7-yard run. Quaker Valley’s Nate Nelson came up with the ball.
On the next drive, the Warriors moved the ball 50 yards on five plays. But an Ameer Dudley scamper to the sideline drained the clock, and the Warriors went into halftime down three scores.
“We got dressed,” Central Valley coach Mark Lyons said. “That is probably the best thing we did tonight. We don’t have any carryover from practice. I thought we practiced well, but we don’t play well. That is a reflection of the head coach.”
Things were not perfect for the Quakers. They had a pair of turnovers and several costly penalties, including two delay of games and a personal foul in the fourth quarter.
But first-year coach Ron Balog saw plenty to build off of in the season-opener.
“I think you have to expect in Game 1 some sloppiness because there are new guys playing,” Balog said. “I mean, we’re starting a freshman at center. And he did an unbelievable job. So you expect some of that. You never like it, but I think you’d be unrealistic to not expect some of that.”
Dudley finished the game with 165 passing yards. His top target was senior Anthony Mendicino, who had six catches for 128 yards.
“That’s not enough,” Lyons said. “You need more than one guy. It’s a team sport, and we don’t have enough guys who are playing at a level that needs to be played.”
This is the first time since Central Valley’s debut in 2010 that the Warriors have opened 0-2.
Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.
Tags: Central Valley, Quaker Valley
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