Minersville opens with romp over Halifax
A host of Minersville players, including A.J. Halford (51) and Garrett Sukeena (27), bring down Halifax's Cohen Bechtel (5) during Friday's season opener at Veterans Memorial Stadium. (Photo by Kelly Wiley)
Carr accounts for 5 touchdowns
MINERSVILLE — Minersville ran seven plays in the first quarter during Friday’s season opener against Halifax.
Three of them went for touchdowns.
It was that kind of a night for the Battlin’ Miners, who overwhelmed Halifax 39-0 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“Really happy,’’ Minersville head coach Justin Frantz said. “We weren’t happy how we played in the scrimmage. We thought we were really sluggish. We thought there wasn’t energy, and that’s what we preach all the time. So all week we were high tempo and a lot of pounding in practice.
“And man, did they respond,’’ Frantz added. “This was one of the best full team games I’ve seen us play.’’
Junior quarterback Dante Carr had a hand in all five Minersville touchdowns, passing for four and notching a fifth on a 91-yard scamper late in the first quarter for a 21-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Minersville’s defense held Halifax to just 55 yards of total offense on 35 plays, an average of 1.6 yards per play. On 21 plays, Minersville (1-0) held the Wildcats to one yard or less.
“They came to play,’’ Frantz said of his defense. “They were awesome. We were all over the football field. … I can’t ask for any more. We were getting nine, 10, 11 hats to the football, which is awesome.’’
Halifax (0-1) opened the game with its best drive of the night — 10 plays — but Minersville forced a punt and wasted no time taking the lead.
After a 17-yard run by Carr and a 20-yard pass to Joseph Kavanaugh, Carr found Paiten LaPoint open for a 32-yard TD strike. On Minersville’s next offensive play, Carr connected with LaPoint again, this time for 51 yards and a score.
“Dante put them right there. I saw open field, and I just took advantage of it,’’ LaPoint said. “I’m very pumped and jacked up right now because we shut them out. Our defense did what they had to do, Coach (Chad) Marquardt has really been putting in the work with the defense. … Our O-line and everybody did a great job.’’
(Photo by Kelly Wiley)
When the Miners got the ball back, Carr raced 91 yards for yet another touchdown.
Three plays, three touchdowns. A 21-0 lead. Game over.
“Last week we had a little bit of a rough scrimmage,’’ Carr said. “We really cleaned it up this week. I’m just so proud of all my teammates. We worked hard all week and came out with a victory.’’
Carr finished 9-of-12 passing for 264 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed four times for 120 yards and a TD. Logan Hutsko led the receiving corps with three catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. LaPoint caught two passes for 83 yards and two scores, while Ty Atkinson added two receptions for 60 yards and a TD.
NOTES: Covering a kickoff late in the first quarter, Minersville sophomore Garrett Sukeena suffered a broken arm that forced him to be taken away by ambulance. After the game, Frantz said Sukeena was at the hospital being prepared for surgery but reported that the player “was in good spirits.’’ … The Miners will open Schuylkill/Colonial Blue Division play next Friday when they visit Shenandoah Valley for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
