Trending
BOSWELL -- Will Eshleman scored five touchdowns leading the North Star Cougars to a 33-14 victory over the Northern Bedford Panthers at Boswell War Memorial Field.
On just 12 carries, Eshleman rushed for 193 yards and four touchdowns, while also adding a pick-six. He broke through for a 79- and a 67-yard touchdown to headline his night.
"I thought my line did a phenomenal job at opening up the holes and getting downfield to block for me," Eshleman stated. "They just made it really easy."
Strong work from the offensive line was what North Star was trying to accomplish this week against the Panthers, especially when it turned into a cold, rainy, mud game.
"We put a lot of pressure on the line this week to step up with their rage and dominate this football game and I felt right from the start that our line, on both sides of the football, took control of this game," North Star coach Shane Smith said. "Will's our shifty guy, and we thought if we can get him loose a little bit, it was going to benefit us."
Northern Bedford got off to a very strong start to the game, recovering a fumble on the first drive, and then Trace Baker hit Nevin Lloyd for a 59-yard score. They played a very strong first quarter, but once it ended, Eshleman began to break through.
On the first play, he scored from 79 yards out to tie the game. The Panthers made a deep drive into the red zone, but a Kasey Yoder interception gave the ball right back to the Cougars. Eshleman capitalized on the turnover with a 67-yard score.
The Panthers got the ball back, but North Star sent a blitz and the ball was tipped up, landing in Eshleman's arms for a 2-yard pick-six.
After the half, Eshleman added touchdowns from 14 and 20 yards out, giving North Star a comfortable lead. Northern Bedford wrapped up the scoring with another connection from Baker to Lloyd, this time from 49 yards out.
Play of the game: Yoder's interception prevented Northern Bedford from regaining the lead in the second quarter and from there, the momentum fully swung in North Star's favor.
Most vital statistic: Northern Bedford turned the ball over four times with three of them in its own territory.
Northern Bedford coach Garry Black: "We were just sloppy. We're going to erase it from our memory and go play Windber next week. We don't have to see them in the playoffs, but when you watch those guys play, that line is enormous. They're very physical and they just took it to us tonight."
Notable: Entering the game, North Star averaged over 160 passing yards per game. Northern Bedford held them to just 10.
"We had a game plan for them and it worked," Black said. "Then they changed and went with a run game and we weren't able to answer."
Records: Northern Bedford (4-4), North Star (7-1)
Next week: Northern Bedford hosts Windber. North Star travels to Berlin Brothersvalley.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Northern Bedford 6 0 0 8 — 14
North Star 0 19 14 0 — 33
First Quarter
NBC–N. Lloyd 59 pass from T. Baker (kick missed), 8:26.
Second Quarter
NS– W. Eshleman 79 run (kick missed) 11:47.
NS– Eshleman 67 run (S. Hemminger kick), 7:47.
NS– Eshleman 2 interception return (kick missed), 6:50.
Third Quarter
NS– Eshleman 14 run (Hemminger kick), 9:10.
NS– Eshleman 20 run (Hemminger kick), 1:01.
Fourth Quarter
NBC–Lloyd 49 pass from Baker (Baker pass to E. Swanseen), 9:11.
TEAM STATISTICS NBC NS
First downs 10 8
Total Yards 294 307
Rushes-yards 32-144 25-297
Passing 150 10
Comp-Att-Int 8-15-2 2-3-0
Punts 3-40.66 3-32.3
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 1-1
Penalties-Yards 9-65 5-40
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING- Northern Bedford, Baker 11-71, Swanseen 13-50, Cottle 2-8, Black 4-9, Dutchcot 1-4, Free 1-2. North Star, Eshleman 12-193, Yoder 12-119, Hemminger 1-(-15).
PASSING–Northern Bedford, Baker 8-15-2-150. North Star, Yoder 2-3-0-10.
RECEIVING–Northern Bedford, Lloyd 3-105, Love 3-7, Cottle 2-38. North Star, Scott 1-11, Kolson 1-(-1).