Plum no match for McKeesport ground game

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 22, 2017 | 11:57 PM

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Riding a high after last Friday's win over Franklin Regional, Plum couldn't keep up with McKeesport's multiple scoring threats as the Class 5A No. 5 Tigers scored six first-half touchdowns on their way to a 48-14 win in a Big East Conference matchup.

“We knew they were a big physical team, and we're not that big and we knew they were going to be leaning on us all night and getting (an early) lead was crucial,” McKeesport coach Matt Miller said.

The stage was set once Plum ( 2-3, 2-2) won the coin toss and chose to receive the kickoff to start the second half. McKeesport (3-1, 3-1) ran the ball right at the Mustang defense as senior quarterback John Harper went 56 yards to open the scoring. Harper finished with 153 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries.

“We got some guys that are pretty dynamic,” Miller said. “ Right now, it's just about getting them to do the right things. Our offense is very intricate, and if they're hitting the seal path right, we got an offense.”

Layton Jordan hit the “seal path” on the next drive and scored on a 75-yard run through the middle of the Mustang defense to boost the Tigers' lead to 14-0 with 6 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first quarter. Jordan scored on a 61 yarder in the second quarter.

“It was great,” Layton said. “Our (offensive) line came off the ball, and we just fed off of their energy.”

Layton finished with a game-high 284 yards rushing.

The Mustangs' offense found a spark in the first quarter when quarterback Anthony Little connected with junior fullback Seth Norcutt to cut the McKeesport lead to 14-7 with 56 seconds remaining.

“I thought offensively when we ran the ball, we were successful,” Plum coach Matt Morgan said. “We moved the line of scrimmage and … I liked that. I like the fight in the second half, and we didn't give up.”

The Mustangs' hopes were short-lived, as 16 seconds later, Harper bolted for an 86-yard touchdown run to bring the score to 21-7. The Tigers took a commanding 41-7 lead into halftime.

“Bottom line, we knew going in that it's assignment football,” Morgan said. “I'm not making any excuses. They're always a good team. There's never a down year for McKeesport.”

The Mustangs scored in the third quarter on Coulter Robb's 15-yard run 1:21 remaining in the third quarter. Robb led the Mustangs in rushing with 115 yards on 22 carries. Last weeks hero, Dakota Sunday, finished with 70 yards on 13 carries. The Tigers didn't pass once but amassed 600 yards rushing.

“We got to stay true to who we are and do a better job of that as coaches,” Morgan said. “I think the offense played fairly well against a good defense. Our defense has been carrying us all year, and they've been playing great but they struggled with assignment football.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: McKeesport, Plum