JOHNSTOWN —
It somehow seemed apropos that the finale of the Ferndale at Conemaugh Valley football game was played in a steady downpour Tuesday afternoon.
The first half-plus of the game had been halted on Sept. 1 when a weather-related delay of thunder and lightning forced the contest to be suspended with 7:35 left in the third quarter and the host squad ahead 40-18.
The Yellow Jackets and Blue Jays picked up where they left off at Thomas Yewcic Stadium Tuesday with host Conemaugh Valley sealing the 47-24 win, the first victory of the season for the Jays.
“The only thing we were missing today was the lightning,” Conemaugh Valley coach Winston Redman said. “A win is a win. We were 75 percent there. It’s hard to get back to it in the middle of the school week like this. I never had to plan for three games in eight days before and with lack of numbers, you have to figure when you’re going to practice.
“The kids are working hard and continue to improve.”
Senior fullback Shane Corson paced the Conemaugh Valley offense finishing with 287 yards and six touchdowns, a school record.
“Shane is a good athlete and a dedicated football player,” Redman said. “He’s a good student and a gentleman off the field. On the football field, he gives you everything that he has. I wish I had two more of him.”
Conemaugh Valley went four and out on its opening drive, turning the ball over to the Jackets on downs at midfield.
After a 28-yard pick up by Carlos Mason and a short gain by Isaiah Sajatovich, Ferndale was down to the 20.
Blue Jays’ freshman Brandon Galasso picked off a Chad Eisenhuth pass and returned it 79 yards to the Jackets 9 to end the visitors threat. Three plays later, Corson scored on a 5-yard run and Swedish exchange student Johannes Hammarling kicked the extra point at the 3:03 mark.
The Jackets (0-3) responded with a 12-play drive capped by a 17-yard pass from Eisenhuth to Tyler Kinsey with 9:58 remaining. The pass conversion failed. Ferndale was 3 for 3 on third-down conversions in the drive.
Eisenhuth finished with 12 carries for 134 yards and was 6 for 12 passing for 76 yards.
The Blue Jays held the ball the rest of the game, converting on fourth down four times to maintain possession and run out the clock.
Despite the loss, Ferndale coach Tony Penna Sr. was upbeat.
“We played so bad the first game and the kids fought back,” Penna said. “I was really happy that coming back like this, that the kids didn’t just lay down and they came out and played with some emotion.
“It’s funny, but I’ve never practiced in the rain this year but all three of our games there’s not only been a threat of rain, but electrical.”
Both squads turn their thoughts to Saturday games against tough opponents.
The Blue Jays host 3-0 Berlin Brothersvalley and Shade (1-2) will be at The Hive.
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