BY CORY ISENBERG
Johnstown got a complete team effort Saturday afternoon at Price Field as the Trojans defeated cross-town rival Westmont Hilltop 33-16 in a Laurel Highlands Conference contest.
“We tell the kids that football is three phases of the game, offense, defense and special teams,” Johnstown coach Kevin Marabito said. “It’s all a team effort. If you think one phase is going to win it for you, you’re in trouble. Everyone sticks together and keeps working, good things are going to come. I was worried all week because Westmont has had our number. Our real game plan was to put it in our athletes’ hands and let them take care of it.”
The Trojans came out throwing the ball and used a no-huddle offense at times to try to keep the Hilltoppers off balance.
“We felt we could throw on Westmont and we wanted to take advantage of that,” Marabito said. “We thought we could get them outside with the speed and then, when they started widening out, we hit the ball up inside. It was a great offensive plan.”
Johnstown’s first offensive drive ended on a fumble, which was recovered by the Hilltoppers’ Noah McQuillan. Westmont was unable to take advantage of the turnover, however, and gave the ball back to the Trojans, going three-and-out.
A six-play drive by Johnstown ended on a LaQuinn Stephens-Howling 7-yard touchdown run. Swedish exchange student Oskar Almgren kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Trojans lead.
The Trojans built onto their lead in the second quarter with three scores. The first came after an interception by Stephens-Howling with Johnstown marching
47 yards on seven plays capped by a John Siciliano 1-yard run and Almgren kick.
Kashmir Pretlor, who finished with
75 yards on 20 carries, scored on a 2-yard run to increase the Johnstown lead to 20-0.
Siciliano (11-of-19, 221 yards passing), threw a 20-yard scoring strike to Richard Agurs (4 catches for 80 yards) to give the Trojans a 26-0 advantage at the half.
A 14-play drive by Johnstown in the third quarter ended with a 1-yard Pretlor dash. Almgren’s kick put the visitors ahead 33-0.
Westmont got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter on a seven-play drive as Stephen Popchak scored from the 28. Joe Glennon threw to Dan Price for the conversion.
Quarterback Casey Eckenrod connected with Popchak on a 42-yard touchdown and threw for the conversion to Glennon to end the scoring.
“What we told the kids, is that if we put forth the effort and execution that we did in the second half, it might have been a different ball game,” Westmont coach Matt Glennon said. “I told them I was unhappy with the loss, but I’m proud of the way we played in the second half. We’re definitely taking steps, but we have to put a full game together.”
On Friday, Johnstown (2-1) will host Richland while Westmont (0-3) journeys to Somerset.
