St. Paul runs past S.C. to set up title game

NORWALK — Get in and get out. The St. Paul football team didn't want to waste anytime on Saturday. Hosting South Central in a Firelands Conference game that featured steady rain and strong wind gusts throughout, the Flyers were looking to keep things moving along at a faster pace. St. Paul did just that, as it scored on its first eight possessions in a 54-6 win over the Trojans at Contractors Stadium. With the win, St. Paul improved to 5-4 overall and 5-0 in the FC, which sets up a winner-take-all championship game against Monroeville (7-2, 5-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Contractors Stadium. The Trojans fell to 1-8 overall and 0-5 in the FC. "It was important for us to get out to a fast start," St. Paul head coach John Livengood said. "South Central has some really good skilled kids … (Aaron) Hauler fights hard and (Gunner) Ray is a really tough runner — and Cole Frankart and Eric Sanders are good. "It was important for us to get going well, and to come out that first drive with a touchdown and get some three-and-outs on defense." The Flyers scored three times in each of the first two quarters to take a commanding 40-0 halftime lead. St. Paul scored in six plays on the first possession of the game, as Ben Burger scored from 23 yards out. The first of six extra points from Nate Griffin made it 7-0 at the 9:49 mark. The Flyers got the ball back less than two minutes later, and on the third play, Josh Pocos got loose for a 61-yard TD run at the 6:46 mark for a 14-0 lead. Yet another forced punt of the Trojans gave the Flyers the ball back at their own 39. On the very first play, Burger found an opening off two blocks and was off to the races for a 61-yard TD. The kid was no good, but the Flyers were firmly in control with a 20-0 lead at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter. After a third straight three-and-out by the Trojans, the Flyers covered 75 yards in seven places. Faced with a third-and-11 after a holding penalty, Pocos bounced off five tacklers right up the middle on a 29-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter to extend the lead to 27-0. South Central's next punt attempt after a three-and-out got a friendly bounce, pinning St. Paul at its own 5-yard line. But the Flyers didn't have a negative play on the drive, with the exception of a 5-yard false start penalty. Drew Kuhnle completed a pair of passes to Ashton Stang for 30 yards, and Burger and Pocos did the rest. On the 12th play of the drive, Pocos scored on a 9-yard run to the left side, diving to hit the pylon with 4:32 left in the first half. The kick was blocked for a 33-0 lead. The Trojans picked up a first down on the ensuing drive, but were again forced to punt after a sack. The Flyers then needed four plays to move 64 yards. Kuhnle connected with Brady Daley for 45 yards, then Burger scored on an 18-yard run with 50 seconds left in the half for a 40-0 lead. "It was a tough night to play football in the elements with the wind and rain," Livengood said. "But I was really pleased with how the kids handled themselves. It didn't have an impact on their mindset coming into the game at all. They were excited to be out there and were ready to play." In the second half, Pocos scored three plays into St. Paul's first drive on a 37-yard run with 7:49 left in the third quarter. On their next possession, the Flyers got an 85-yard TD run on the first play from sophomore Landon Fries with 3:28 left in the third to extend the lead to 54-0. South Central got on the scoreboard with a 10-play, 71-yard drive. Aaron Hauler found Eric Sanders for a 21-yard pass play, and the Flyers were whistled for pass interference for 15 more yards. Gunner Ray found the left corner for an 8-yard TD with 5:21 left in the game. "We're a young team that's a little beat up and battered, and they have a heck of a program with a great tradition," South Central head coach Derek Fisher said. "All credit to Coach Livengood and his staff and players. "They came out ready to play. We're trying to figure out what is going to work for us and to get things going, but we were a little bit outmatched tonight." Ray ran 12 times for 48 yards and the lone score for the Trojans, who visit Plymouth (2-7, 0-5) in their annual rivalry game on Friday. "We're looking forward to it and want to try and send our seniors out on a good note," Fisher said of the matchup. "Hopefully we can establish both lines of scrimmage and find what works and also send our seniors out strong. "We have some positive things going, it's just trying to sustain them and keep them going two or three plays in a row has been a problem for us," he added. "But the kids have been giving good effort and the morale is good. They've been working hard, and next week is one I think we're looking forward to." For St. Paul, Pocos ran 14 times for 220 yards and 4 TDs to go over the 1,100-yard mark, with Burger adding 164 yards and 2 TDs on 12 attempts. The Flyers were 0-3 and down four two-way starters after the first three games, but will now host the rival Eagles in what amounts to the FC title game. "Just very proud of our kids," Livengood said. "It was a tough start with our non-conference schedule and the injuries we had to deal with. The kids kept fighting through the adversity and believing in themselves. "One of the thing Is really enjoy about this team is they show up with good attitudes every day ready to practice," he added. "They never hung their heads and have put themselves in position to play a championship game in Week 10, and I'm really proud of them for that." S. Central 0 0 0 6 — 6 St. Paul 20 20 14 0 — 54 Scoring STP — Ben Burger 23 run (Nate Griffin kick) STP — Josh Pocos 61 run (Griffin kick) STP — Burger 61 run (kick failed) STP — Pocos 29 run (Griffin kick) STP — Pocos 9 run (kick blocked) STP — Burger 18 run (Griffin kick) STP — Pocos 37 run (Griffin kick) STP — Landon Fries 85 run (Griffin kick) SC — Gunner Ray 8 run (kick blocked)