NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (EYT) — For those that thought that Redbank Valley junior Clint Thurston would be the player to help turn the tide for the Bulldogs in Thursday night’s Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference Small School Division matchup against Union/A-C Valley, take a bow.
Thurston made his mark repeatedly on special teams, offense and defense as the Bulldogs scored a 14-0 shutout win over the Falcon Knights for their second straight win.
The weather played havoc with both teams as heavy rain fell at times during the game.
But the Bulldogs handled it better.
After a scoreless first quarter that saw Redbank’s defense come up big after Union took over at the Bulldogs 32-yard line and move to the 20 after a wind-aided bad punt, the Bulldogs scored all of the game’s points in the second quarter.
“We weathered the storm in the first quarter,” Wasilowski cracked. “They had the wind in the first quarter and I thought if we could get out of it, we’d be OK.
“On a night like tonight, you have to be able to run the ball and you have to be able to stop it and I thought we did both, especially when we needed to. It sure the (heck) beats losing.”
When the quarter changed and the wind went to its advantage, Redbank took advantage thanks in part to some strong running by Thurston.
The junior, known as baby bus in reference to former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, was in the middle of most of the key parts of the second quarter.
After the Bulldogs forced a Falcon Knight punt that traveled just 9 yards into the wind, the Bulldogs started at their 38.
Thurston carried three straight times, bruising the Falcon Knights for 30 yards to the Union/A-C Valley 32.
Thurston talked about his performancee after the game.
Quarterback Keaton Kahle appeared to give the Bulldogs the lead on a 32-yard run, but it was called back on a holding call.
After a missed pass on the next play, Thurston picked up five yards and an offsides penalty on a fourth down play against the Falcon Knights gave Redbank a first down at the 24.
On the next play, Curtis Mohney broke off a 24-yard touchdown run and Thurston’s kick made it 7-0 with 7:21 left in the first half.
Thurston’s kickoff carried to the 1-yard line, and the Falcon Knights Greg Duncan fielded the ball at the 1-yard line he was stuffed at the 13.
Redbank’s defense rose up with a sack of Union/ACV QB Lucas Bowser on third down by Chase Wilse, and the Falcon Knight punt from the 13 gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Union/ACV 45.
Colton Mohney did the rest on the drive as he carried five times for 50 yards, including a 14-yard TD run up the middle. Only a 5-yard procedure penalty slowed the Bulldogs momentarily.
Thurston added the PAT kick to make it 14-0, then he kicked the ball into the end zone, forcing the Falcon Knights to start at their 20 and they ended up punting.
Redbank looked like it had another touchdown late in the half, but a scoring run by Curtis Mohney from 13 yards out was called back on a hold near the goal line, and the Bulldogs ended up turning the ball over on downs.
In the second half the Bulldogs overcame two lost fumbles and a lack of a first down by winning the field position battle and the Falcon Knights helped out with two turnovers and a number of penalties.
“We really shot ourselves in the foot,” Falcon Knights head coach Dave Louder said. “Fumbles on big plays, holding calls on key plays, we just couldn’t seem to get anything going.”
Union slightly outgained Redbank 178-147, but the three turnovers and 10 penalties for 51 yards nullified whatever they did offensively.
The most costly turnover for Union/ACV came early in the fourth quarter when Colton Mohney picked off a Bowser pass near the goal line after Kody Wolf of the Falcon Knights and Mohney both had their hands on the ball before Mohney ended up with it and returned it out to the 45.
While Redbank didn’t get a first down in the half, Thurston’s punts were a difference maker.
His last two kicks were 39 and 40 yards with Union/A-C Valley beginning drives at its 19 and 2.
The Bulldogs also came up with three takeaways on the Falcon Knights last four possessions.
Colten Mohney picked off two passes and Logan Minich recovered a fumble.
Redbank has responded well the last two weeks after a blowout loss at Clarion-Limestone two weeks and now stands 3-2 overall and 2-1 KSAC Small School Division.
The Falcon Knights dropped their second straight game and are 2-3 overall and 1-2 in division play. They narrowly lost to Clarion-Limestone, 20-18, in the opener, then scored 94 points while beating both Keystone and Moniteau. But they scored just 14 in a loss last week against St. Marys.
The win gives Redbank a slight edge over Union/ACV in the District 9 1A playoff race.
Both teams finished with just eight first downs. Redbank finished with 148 yards rushing while holding the Falcon Knights to 98.
Individually, Union/A-C Valley’s Duncan and Redbank’s Colton Mohney each rushed for 60 yards.
Bowser hit 9 of 15 passes for 79 yards and two interceptions.
The Falcon Knights are back in action Oct. 7 hosting Punxsutawney.
The Bulldogs will play at the Clarion Bobcats Oct. 7.
REDBANK VALLEY 14, UNION/A-C VALLEY 0
Score by Quarters
U/ACV 0 0 0 0 – 0
RBV 0 14 0 0 – 14
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
R — Curtis Mohney 24 run (Clint Thurston kick), 7:21.
R — Colten Mohney 14 run (Thurston kick), 3:32.
TEAM STATISTICS
U/ACV RBV
First Downs 8 8
Rushes-Yards 42-98 34-148
Passing Yards 79 12
Comp-Att-Int 9-16-2 4-9-0
Total Plays-Yards 58-177 43-160
Fumbles-Lost 5-1 6-2
Penalties-Yards 9-52 5-40
Punts-Avg. 7-29.6 7-32.6
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — Lane Chalmers 14-58, Lucas Bowser 8-(-22), Greg Duncan 13-60, Jeffrey Ginn 4-16, Team 3-(-14). Redbank Valley: Colton Mohney 11-60, Curtis Mohney 6-48, Keaton Kahle 6-30, Clint Thurston 5-39, Team 6-(-29).
Passing — Union/A-C Valley: Lucas Bowser 9 of 15, 79 yards, 2 Int. Team 0-for-1 Redbank Valley: Keaton Kahle 4 of 9, 12 yards.
Receiving — Union/A-C Valley: Lane Chalmers 1-(-2), Jeffrey Ginn 2-12, Kody Wolfe 3-53, Trey Miles 3-16. Redbank Valley: Jared Kespelher 1-10, Chase Wiles 2-(-2), Brock Barrett 1-4.
Interceptions — Redbank Valley: Colten Mohney 2.
