Consiglio keys BG victory
Trending
By John Hartsock
jhartsock@altoonamirror.com
HOLLIDAYSBURG --Bishop Guilfoyle Academy junior Taurean Consiglio said that he has undergone an acclimation process of sorts this football season.
Consiglio said that it's been a matter of his gaining the trust of the BG coaching staff, as well as gaining trust in his own abilities.
"I hadn't played that much last year, and going into this season, I needed to build my confidence,'' the 5-foot-10 fullback-linebacker said Friday night at Hollidaysburg's Tiger Stadium after spearheading the unbeaten Marauders to a 23-12 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference victory over Central.
"I proved myself in practice, and I think the coaches like me running the ball,'' Consiglio added. "That helps give our team another option on offense.''
A big one indeed, as Consiglio rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown, caught a 21-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Chase Kissell and made a key interception on defense for BG, which improved to 5-0 overall.
BG coach Justin Wheeler said that Consiglio brings a lot to the table on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
"He's an incredible athlete,'' Wheeler said. "He did everything for us tonight --ran the ball, caught the ball and intercepted the ball. He was really good.''
BG broke out to a 20-0 halftime lead and held off a feisty Central team in the second half. Kissell, who completed 14 of 28 passes for 191 yards and rushed 14 times for 86 yards, opened the scoring on a 4-yard run off right tackle for BG with 3:24 left in the first quarter.
After Central picked up some momentum in the second quarter, driving from its own 19 to the BG 9, a fourth-down pass by Central senior quarterback Eli Muthler intended for wideout Adam Baird was broken up by defensive back Tyson Lestochi in the left corner of the end zone, regaining possession for the Marauders.
BG moved the ball 81 yards in nine plays on its ensuing possession, with Consiglio rushing for 32 yards on four carries before taking a Kissell pass on the left flat 21 yards to the end zone with 5:09 left in the first half, helping the Marauders to a 14-0 lead.
"That (sequence) really hurt,'' said Central coach Jerry Albright, whose team dropped to 3-2 overall and in the conference. "That gave them the momentum back, and that was the difference in the ballgame. After we didn't score there, and they put together that scoring drive of their own, I think it really took a lot of energy from us.''
Consiglio intercepted a pass on Central's ensuing possession, giving BG the ball right back at the Central 26, and two plays later, Consiglio busted a run up the middle for 20 yards and another touchdown to stake BG to its 20-0 halftime lead.
Plays of the game: The pivotal sequence in the second quarter when BG stopped Central's scoring threat, then promptly mounted its own 81-yard scoring drive, turned the tide in the Marauders' favor for good.
Players of the game: Consiglio contributed in a variety of ways, also catching three passes for 48 yards, and Kissell did a fine job both running and passing the football.
Unsung heroes: Wheeler said that the coaches challenged BG's offensive line going into Friday night's game, and the entire unit responded superbly.
Most vital statistic: BG overcame 136 yards in penalties via 12 infractions by racking up 414 yards in total offense, and riding a balanced attack in which the Marauders had 223 rushing and 191 passing yards.
Kissell: "I thought that our defense played really well the whole game, but we have to keep the penalties down on offense to get to where we want to be.''
Notable: After sophomore kicker Carter Boland booted a 22-yard third-quarter field goal to give BG a 23-0 lead, Central battled gamely, scoring touchdowns on Muthler's 6-yard TD pass to senior wideout Jay Hoenstine late in the third quarter and Muthler's 16-yard scoring pass to senior wideout Thaide Mickel with 1:15 left in the game. "We had a much better effort in the second half, and I'm very proud of our players for continuing to battle,'' Albright said ... Muthler, who completed 16 of 33 passes for 171 yards, intercepted a pass on defense for Central, as did Braydon Beach ... Senior linebacker Nick McCloskey had an interception for BG, and drew praise from Wheeler. "I thought that Nick McCloskey played incredible for us,'' Wheeler said. "He plays fullback, linebacker, and he's on special teams. He never leaves the field, and his attitude and effort is great.''
Records: Central (3-2); Bishop Guilfoyle (5-0).
Next week: Central hosts Huntingdon, Bishop Guilfoyle visits Tyrone.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Central 0 0 6 6--12
Bishop Guilfoyle 7 13 3 0--23
First Quarter
BG--C. Kissell 4 run (M. Cacciotti kick), 3:24.
Second Quarter
BG--Consiglio 21 pass from C. Kissell (Boland kick), 5:09.
BG--Consiglio 20 run (kick failed), 2:49.
Third Quarter
BG--Boland 22 FG, 3:37.
C--Hoenstine 6 pass from E. Muthler (run failed), 0:45.
Fourth Quarter
C--Mickel 16 pass from E. Muthler (pass failed), 1:15.
TEAM STATISTICS C BG
First downs 11 20
Total yards 220 414
Rushes-yards 12-49 40-223
Yards passing 171 191
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 16-33-2 14-28-2
Punts/avg. 3-54 1-44
Fumbles-lost 3-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-48 12-136
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Central, Mickel 2-23, E. Muthler 4-14, Beach 4-11, Musei 2-1. Bishop Guilfoyle, Consiglio 13-108, C. Kissell 14-86, Gates 9-19, J. Kissell 3-8, McCloskey 1-2.
PASSING--Central, E. Muthler 16-33-2-171. Bishop Guilfoyle, C. Kissell 14-28-2-191.
RECEIVING--Central, Mickel 6-54, Hoenstine 5-86, Klotz 2-17, Beach 2-7, Baird 1-7. Bishop Guilfoyle, Gates 4-81, Reilly 4-41, Consiglio 3-48, J. Kissell 2-21, McCloskey 1-0.