Minersville runs past Mahanoy Area in Blue Division
Minersville's Logan Hutsko returns a fumble during Friday's game against Mahanoy Area. (Photo by Kelly Wiley)
MINERSVILLE — On the night junior quarterback Dante Carr set the Minersville career record for touchdown passes, the undefeated, untied and unscored upon 1957 Cass Township team can emulate the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins and raise a glass in celebration.
With Carr passing for two touchdowns and running for three, the Battlin’ Miners dominated Mahanoy Area 49-19 to remain undefeated in the Blue Division. Those points are the first of the season allowed by Minersville (3-0, 2-0 Blue), so there is no danger of equaling the feat of the 1957 Condors.
Carr opened the scoring with a 26-yard run and closed out the first quarter with a 46-yard run. In between, he completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Matt Dube that gave him 35 for his career.
Trailing 28-0 in the second quarter, the Golden Bears (0-3, 0-2 Blue) got touchdown runs from Kyler Quick and Levi Terry before Carr delivered again. With a first down at midfield, he combined with Joe Kavanaugh for a 50-yard touchdown pass and a 36-13 halftime lead.
Carr and his teammates were aware that he and Scott Schwalm shared the school record needing one TD pass to become school’s all-time leader in TD passes. Both he and Scott Schwalm had the record at 34, so they should have plenty to talk about when they go hunting together this fall.
“I knew I needed one to break the record, and I’m glad we got it over early,” Carr said. “You need the help of a lot of people to set those kind of records.
“You need people who can catch the ball and you need people up front to give you time. And, really, I’d almost rather run the ball than pass.”
Carr added a 57-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for a 42-19 lead and was the game’s leading rusher with 158 yards on eight carries. Mahanoy had a pair of 100-yard rushers in Quick (12-144) and Terry (22-101).
Derek Derenzo made a statement for the defense when he forced a fumble and returned the ball 57 yards for a touchdown to cap the scoring. It was just another big play in a night of big plays by the Miners.
“When you get off to a 22-0 lead, it’s hard to maintain your intensity,” Minersville coach Justin Frantz said. “Plus the fact we expected Mahanoy to come at us.
“We’re still working on some things, but we’re getting better. And, it was a big relief to see Dante get the record early.”
