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Skopic kicks Trojans to first victory

MOUNT UNION — As the Mount Union offense lined up for the last play of the game, the Trojans trailed 14-12 against Moshannon Valley, and both teams knew that one swing of Trojans’ kicker Trevor Skopic’s leg would determine the outcome of the game.

As the ball was hiked and placed in line, Skopic’s kick was straight on from 28 yards out, giving the Trojans a heart-stopping 15-14 victory to the delight of the home crowd.

“I am very happy for these kids. I said all year that our kids never give up. We sometimes continue to make mistakes and put us in a situation that we have to do that,” Mount Union coach Jamie Brumbaugh said. “But they don’t give up and I am happy for them.”

The kick capped off what was to be an exciting final stanza where both teams took a lead only to have it taken away.

But with the kick ending the game at the buzzer, it was the Trojans who got their hands raised on this night.

After trailing by six coming into the second half, Mount Union put the ball in their quarterback Quinton Posey’s hands, and he did not disappoint, finishing with 101 yards through the air and 227 on the ground.

The Black Knights steadily handed it to Jon Dale most of the night. Dale was the iron man for his team rushing 26 times for 141 yards and he even caught a clutch pass late in the game for 25.

“This was a great, great high school game,” Moshannon Valley coach Michael Keith said. “We told them afterward that they can’t ease up. They can’t be lax and let them move the ball. I told them that I love the fight in them. They’ve done that all year long. We might be 2-7, but we have fought all year long.”

In the first half, the Black Knights defense was able to keep the Trojans’ offense at bay while they were able to put one in during the second quarter.

Starting on its own 43, Mo Valley marched down the field, mostly on the legs of Dale, going on a nine-play drive culminating in a Dale 1-yard TD run.

With a Trojans penalty on the PAT, the Black Knights decided to go for two and were successful as quarterback Ben Murawski called his own number and followed his blockers in the end zone, making it 8-0 with 9:33 left until the intermission.

With the first half coming to a close, the Mount Union defense deterred the Black Knight from cashing one in late as the buzzer sounded with Mo Valley deep in Trojan Territory.

Mount Union regrouped at halftime and went right to work in their first possession of the second half.

Posey and company started at their own 48 but quickly marched downfield as Posey faked the pass and turned straight up the field picking up chunks of yardage and worked his way down to the 17 in just four plays. After a long run, putting Mount Union at the Black Knight 17, Posey turned on the jets and scored from 17 yards out. However, the two-point conversion failed, making it an 8-6 game.

From there, both defenses bent but didn’t break as the fourth quarter began with Mount Union still be trailing by two.

That wouldn’t take too long to change as the offensive line for the Trojans opened up hole after hole and seam after seam for their quarterback.

And at exactly 8:53 again, it was Klayton Willoughby that surprised the Black Knights defense and scored from the 13.

Like after their first touchdown, the Trojans two-point conversion failed, but Mount Union regained the lead at 12-8.

With less than 3 minutes left, Moshannon Valley worked the ball downfield through the air.

Making clutch catches on the drive were Dale and Joseph Bacher.

As the clock struck 1:21, Dale picked up his second touchdown of the night, busting his way through the line for a 4-yard score.

Mount Union held the Black Knights from connecting on the two-point conversion, keeping them within striking distance of 14-12.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Moshannon Valley 0 8 0 6 — 14

Mount Union 0 0 6 9 — 15

Second Quarter

MV–Dale 1-yard run (Murawski run), 9:33.

Third Quarter

MU–Posey 17-yard run (conversion failed), 8:53.

Fourth Quarter

MU–Willoughby 13-yard run (conversion failed), 8:53.

MV–Dale 4 run (conversion failed), 0:51.

MU–Skopic 28 FG, 0:00.

Team Statistics MV MU

Rushing 165 309

Passing 7-14-0 7-18-1

Passing yards 111 101

Receiving 111 101

Total yards 276 410

First downs 15 21

Fumbles-lost. 1-1 0-0

Penalties 3-33 6-41

Punts-avg.. 5-47 4-38

Individual statistics

Rushing: Moshannon Valley, Dale 26-141, Murawski 6-12, Bacher 1-2. Mount Union, Carbaugh 11-45, Willoughby 8-37, Posey 27-227.

Passing: Moshannon Valley, Murawski 7-14-0-111. Mount Union, Posey 7-18-1-101.

Receiving: Moshannon Valley, Dale 1-25, Bacher 2-50, Matchock 4-36. Mount Union, Carbaugh 3-40, Willoughby 1-5, Lear 3-56.

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