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closeBELLEFONTE — Central’s offense works its way into wacky positions.
CDT/Michelle Bixby
Bellefonte's Brad Grieb (32) tries to take down Central's Connor Garbrick (2) during the Central Mountain at Bellefonte varsity football game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. CDT/Michelle Bixby
At times, quarterback Lucas Runk attempts running passes from 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage. When Runk runs, he often sprints around the tackles.
On defense, conventional routes and positioning yielded loads of points against Bellefonte.
Central scored 21 points off turnovers during the final minute of the first half to defeat Bellefonte 54-14 in a game started Friday and ended Saturday night because of a power outage at Rogers Stadium.
The Scarlet Dragons (3-0), ranked seventh in Class AA in the state, tied a school record for points scored.
Their wide-open offense produced 428 total yards, including 308 through the air. But a stout first-team defense held Bellefonte (1-2) scoreless.
The Red Raiders’ two touchdowns — Brad Grieb’s 1-yard run and Billy Muzika’s 65 scamper — came during the fourth quarter against the second-team defense.
The final minute of the second quarter doomed Bellefonte, which committed seven first-half turnovers.
Trailing 14-0 and facing a third-and- 10 from their own 22, Bellefonte coach Zac Wynkoop ordered freshman quarterback Billy Thompson, who was replacing injured starter Ty Warner, to attempt a pass. Shane Cafferty stepped in front of wide receiver Torin Miller and returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown.
Thompson completed a 14- yard pass to Miller on the Red Raiders’ next offensive play. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Cafferty barreled into Miller, forcing a fumble recovered by Ben Leberfinger.
Central needed three plays to score as Runk ended the brisk drive by tossing a 9-yard touchdown pass to Josten Hardy. The drive started with Derek Nothstein completing a 30-yard pass to Runk.
Jarron Knisely’s hit rattled Travis Struble on the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Smith corralled the ball at the 33 and returned it for a touchdown with eight seconds left in the half.
“It snowballed and I take the blame,” Bellefonte coach Zac Wynkoop said. “I think Billy did a great job. Nobody has any idea of what that feels like until you are in that situation. I should have done a better job of calling plays that would have helped him be more successful. I’m proud of Billy and disappointed in myself.”
The three touchdowns were recorded during a 50-second stretch, an unexpected feat even for a quick-strike team such as the Scarlet Dragons.
“I knew we were scoring and I knew we were scoring quick,” Cafferty said. “I didn’t realize we scored 21 points that fast.”
Perhaps Cafferty and his teammates were agitated another trip to Bellefonte altered their Saturday plans.
The teams played for 5 minutes, 30 seconds Friday, and Central entered the game’s second phase leading 7-0. The Scarlet Dragons quickly scored, needing seven plays to drive 66 yards. The drive was interrupted by three Scarlet Dragon penalties, yet ended with Runk plunging in from the 1 after completing a 19- yard pass to Cafferty, a tight end approaching the school’s all-time receptions record.
Cafferty, who celebrated his 18th birthday Friday and was scheduled to take a recruiting trip to Kutztown University on Saturday, played a part in four turnovers and intercepted three passes during the second quarter.
“I think Shane had those interceptions because last week he actually he missed a few against Indian Valley and we were keeping a tally chart,” said Central coach A.J. Hoenstine, whose team has won three road games to begin the season. “He said he was going to get a couple this week. He’s an excellent player.”
Thompson showed poise against a veteran defense. He completed two passes to Miller for 46 yards during the quarter. Their first connection went for 30 yards and took the ball to midfield. Two plays later, Cafferty dropped back to cover tight end Zach Tressler and intercepted a pass.
“I didn’t realize he was a freshman quarterback,” Cafferty said. “I thought he showed really good composure.”
Cafferty wasn’t the only all-state candidate to hurt the Red Raiders.
Runk, a second-team all-state selection who played running back last year, completed 9 of 13 passes for 249 yards. Runk and wide receiver Jordon Saylor connected on a 62-yard scoring strike Friday and 65-yarder Saturday. Saylor caught three passes for 173 yards and completed a 24-yard pass to Lucas Blattenberger.
“They are a very good football team,” Wynkoop said. “They have great athletes, they play hard and they kicked our butts.”
The Red Raiders worked their best offensively and defensively at the line of scrimmage. They held Central to 120 rushing yards on 32 carries, with Runk gaining 58 yards on 12.
Bellefonte ran 11 straight running plays to the middle of the field to score its first touchdown. The drive included Struble’s 11-yard run, Nate Shultz’s 12-yard plunge and Malik Breon’s 27-yard dash before ending with Grieb receiving six straight carries.
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