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Rams slash languid Wolverines |
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Monday, 08 September 2008 |
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 Johnsonburg senior quarterback Ren Yonker fumbles the ball while being tackled by a Sheffield defender during the first quarter of the Rams' 40-8 win Saturday at Sheffield. The Rams retained possession as the fumble bounced out of bounds. By Joseph Bell
Record Staff Writer SHEFFIELD – Behind an aerial assault party between senior quarterback Ren Yonker and senior flanker Craig Carrow, the Johnsonburg Rams cruised to an easy 40-8 road win Saturday afternoon in Sheffield.
Yonker spiraled the ball in the air seven times for 151 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon, including two scores to Carrow.
However, the Rams' started the game slow and sloppy. Senior running back Zane Zelehoski fumbled his first punt return with 10:34 remaining in the first quarter to give the Wolverines excellent field position. But Yonker managed to break up a Craig Fitch pass on third-and-13 with 8:30 remaining in the first quarter. On the ensuing drive, Zelehoski lost another fumble at 6:18 but a stifling Rams defense forced fourth-and-11.
Facing third-and-9, a Yonker endzone pass went in and out of Zelehoski's hands. After converting a fourth down play, the Rams eventually scored on a touchdown run up the middle by senior fullback Mark Myers to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
With time winding down in the first quarter, Johnsonburg took to the air as Carrow scored on a 64-yard pass from Yonker with 44.8 second left in the quarter to go up 13-0.
But despite finally breaking through late in the first quarter, Johnsonburg head football coach Tom Launer said his team started slow.
"We made some mistakes early on and started slow but we came around," Launer said. "I'm a little disappointed in the fumbles but Craig (Carrow) had some great catches there."
Carrow finished the day with 127 yards on five receptions, including two touchdowns.
"Craig had an outstanding game and made some nice catches. His first touchdown, the 64-yard pass, he adjusted his route because the slant wasn't there," Launer said. "(Craig) adjusted it to a deep slant and that was him and Ren working together there."
After a punt from Sheffield junior Ian Davidson pinned the Rams at their own 7-yard line, Yonker raced down the left side of the field, dodging several tackles before executing a nice cutback to beat the last defender for a 93-yard touchdown run at the 11:28 mark of the second quarter to go up 20-0. Nearly four minutes later, Yonker struck again, this time through the air, dumping off a short 8-yard pass to the back of the endzone to senior wide receiver Andy Benson.
Yonker nabbed the trifecta with 6:15 remaining in the first half as Carrow made a jumping 25-yard grab next to the pylon to give the Rams a 32-0 lead.
According to Launer, Yonker had another monster game.
"(Ren) ran for the long touchdown and the touchdown passes were great," Launer said. "He also made some great tackles on defense and broke up some passes in the air. He's establishing himself as one of the best in the AML (Allegheny Mountain League)."
Despite the first-half manhandling by the Rams, Yonker's scoring party wasn't quite finished.
On the kickoff return to open up the third quarter, Yonker raced 84 yards to the endzone, adding a special teams touchdown to compliment his 93-yard touchdown run and three touchdown passes.
With most of the starters pulled, Johnsonburg finally gave in and punted the ball for the first time midway through the third quarter to the 18-yard line. However, Sheffield's problems continued as a weak offensive line was constantly penetrated by a slew of Ram defenders.
While Sheffield's Davidson was back in his own endzone to punt, Johnsonburg's Myers broke through the line and blocked the punt in the endzone, giving the Rams a safety and a 40-0 advantage.
With his starters sitting on the bench for much of the final quarter, the Wolverines finally broke through toward the end of the game, aided by a roughing the passer penalty at the 1:41 mark and subsequent pass interference call 10 seconds later. A short one-yard strike from Fitch to senior running back Timothy Fry broke the shutout. A two-point conversion followed as the Rams retained a 40-8 advantage.
In the first two games of the season, the Rams have outscored opponents 80-8, and their opponents combined records now stand at 0-4 after week No. 2.
Despite the absence of a significant challenge, Launer said he was happy with how the schedule turned out this season.
"We felt like some of the tougher games would come later so we'd have a chance to work things out," Launer said. "We expect Port Allegany to be a balanced ball game."
Johnsonburg's home opener is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., against Port Allegany.
Port Allegany lost a 23-8 road game Aug. 29 in Curwensville before succumbing to a 15-0 shutout on Saturday at home against Elk County Catholic.
But with the home opener approaching, Launer said his team has several areas to address.
"We had two extra points blocked. You can live with missing a kick but having them blocked, that's a problem," Launer said.
Myers converted only two of his six extra-point attempts. Two were blocked, one sailed wide left, and the other sailed wide right.
Yellow flags consistently littered the field, most against the visiting Rams.
"We would have had a shutout again but late penalties cost us," Launer said. "We worked on all that in practice so we'll just work on it again this week."
Early on in the game, the Rams were victimized by several high snaps at center.
"The snaps at center, we've been working on that in practice," Launer said. "It's just the excitement of the game and players make mistakes. But (senior center Cory Redmond) is doing a good job for us and he'll continue to be center."
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 11 September 2008 )
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