Rams shut down Scotties
Union (0) vs. Rochester (42)
Written: Sep 18, 2010
By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com
It was more of the same last night and that spelled bad news for the Union High football team.
Rochester’s strong defense is still pitching a shutout through all 12 quarters this season, as well as the last three years against the Scotties.
Union managed just 36 yards of total offense and the Rams broke the game open in the second quarter en route to a 42-0 Big Seven Conference victory.
Rochester (1-0 conference, 3-0 overall) has outscored its opponents 123-0 this year, while blanking the Scotties the last three seasons, 118-0. The Rams are ranked No. 2 in the WPIAL in Class A by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and No. 3 in the state.
“Ball control is essential against a team like Rochester,” Union coach Stacy Robinson said. “They will wear you down; that’s a typical Rochester team, they play hard.”
The Scotties (0-1, 1-2) won the toss and took the ball, managing a first down when quarterback Andre Jones scrambled for a first down. However, Union notched just one more first down the rest of the way.
“I was worried about Union,” said Rams coach and 1981 Shenango graduate Gene Matsook. “They have talent in their skill positions and they have a solid line.”
Rochester marched 44 yards in seven plays for the game’s first score. The Rams ran the ball on the first six plays before quarterback Jasson Adamson found Ray Ratti for a 27-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 margin. Rochester was faced with a fourth-and-seven and Adamson connected with Ratti, who had the first down on a pass over the middle. Ratti shook an attempted tackle by Jones to cruise in for the touchdown.
Adamson hooked up with Ratti again on Rochester’s next possession for a 36-yard scoring strike and a 14-0 buffer. Adamson was 5 of 6 through the air for 149 yards and a pair of scores, all of which came in the first half.
Rochester rolled up 277 yards of offense in the first half.
“We showed we could pass the ball,” Matsook said. “Ratti displayed he could make plays for us in the passing game.
“We want to be a balanced football team and I thought we proved our quarterback can throw the ball.”
Said Robinson, “There’s no surprise with what they do. They’ll pound it at you and lull you to sleep, then they hit the big pass.”
The Scotties couldn’t get going the rest of the first half. The hosts executed 17 plays after their first series, three of which were punts.
“I didn’t expect us to get moved around up front like we did,” Robinson said.
Rochester scored 35 points in the second quarter. Todd Weischedel capped the half by picking off Jones and returning it 25 yards for a score.
“Our defense is really playing well,” Matsook said. “We’ve been doing a great job on that side of the ball and they’re only getting better.
“We’re just looking to win games. If we get a shutout, so be it. We just want to take things one game at a time.”
The second half was played under the mercy rule. The Scotties crossed midfield for the only time on their last drive of the contest with just under six minutes to play, reaching the Rams’ 47.
“Believe it or not, I did find positives with this game,” Robinson said. “I thought our kids gave a great effort. We’re not here to get moral victories, though.
“When you’re out there getting beat like that, you can’t buffalo anyone. In the end you want to get better and I think we can take positives out of certain things.”
Union returns to conference action at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at South Side Beaver.
ROCHESTER UNION
15 First downs 2
164 Yards Rushing 53
3 Yards Lost 21
161 Net Rushing 32
9 Passes Attempted 7
7 Passes Completed 1
0 Passes Intercepted 1
167 Yards Passing 4
328 Total Yards 36
4-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-2
1-35 Punts-Average 5-32
4-20 Penalties-Yards 6-55
ROCHESTER 7 35 0 0 — 42
UNION 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring plays
ROCHESTER — Ray Ratti, 27-yard pass from Jasson Adamson (Jonathan Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Ratti, 36-yard pass from Adamson (Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Devon Glass, 17-yard run (Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Troy Belcastro, 48-yard pass from Adamson (Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Nick Tapia, 5-yard run (Johnson kick).
ROCHESTER — Todd Weischedel, 25-yard interception return (Johnson kick).
|