Blue Devils use strong first half to cruise by Mount Union
Taneyhill sets record; Brunner goes for 100 again
Duke Brunner had his second straight 100-yard game against Mount Union.
October 17, 2016
The Blue Devil football team continued its success, running its winning streak to seven games with a 28-8 victory over Mount Union last Friday night.
The win gave B-A a commanding lead in the ICC over the Trojans, who fell to 5-2 in conference play and 5-3 overall.
In the process, quarterback Jarrett Taneyhill completed 8 of 17 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns, which allowed him to eclipse the B-A single-season touchdown record. He has now thrown for 19 scores this season.
Senior Duke Brunner logged his second straight 100-yard game with 158 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
We need to come to play every quarter and not let our foot off the pedal.
— Sawyer Kline
The Devils got off to a strong start with a lead of 21-0 at halftime, but after a 17-yard completion from Devon Kuhstos to Quinton Posey for a Trojan touchdown in the third, the Devils were only able to score once more and hold the Trojans with a scoreless fourth.
“I feel our performance was very good, but after the second quarter we all felt tired and burnt out,” said senior lineman Austin Walls.
“We need to come to play every quarter and not let our foot off the pedal,” said senior running back Sawyer Kline.
After its first offensive play of the night, the Blue Devil offense pushed to score when Jarrett Taneyhill found Kline for a 10-yard touchdown in the first, with a PAT by Brendan Kowalski to start the Devils with a 7-0 lead.
Continuing to drive, the Devils scored twice in the second with a 35-yard completion from Taneyhill to Kowalski and a 36-yard run by Ryen Beam to advance the Devils 21-0 in the first half.
“Our defense has stepped up against good teams,” said linebacker-fullback Thor Schmittle. “We have also been moving the ball on the ground, and really wearing out defenses by running it down their throat.”
With less than a minute in the third Posey received on a 17-yard pass from Kuhstos to score. Daunte Martin ran for a two-point PAT to make the score 21-8.
“We need to play a full game,” said senior lineman Jarryd Kissell.
Seconds after the Trojans scored Nick Watters ran 12 yards to score, followed by a PAT by Kowalski to set the final.
“We played a good game against a very good opponent,” said Taneyhill. “It gives us momentum going into playoffs. We need to keep focus throughout the whole game and play all 48 minutes.”
Despite the Devils lack of offensive drive in the final quarter, the Blue Devil defense kept its hold on the Trojans offense.
B-A will be on the road this Friday to play Southern Huntingdon, a 4-4 team the Devils could see again in the Class AA playoffs.
