Click here to subscribe today or Login.
SCRANTON — The GAR football team met a buzz saw Friday night when it travelled to Scranton Memorial Stadium.
Led behind a strong rushing attack, Scranton Prep was too much for GAR, and the game got away from the Grenadiers (6-6) early. Scranton Prep running back Matt Gilmartin found the end zone twice by halftime, while Cavaliers quarterback Jake Ryan was responsible for three scores at the break, en route to a 40-14 victory and berth in the PIAA 3A playoffs.
Friday night’s win gave the Cavaliers (11-1) their second straight district title.
“They were as advertised,” GAR head coach Paul Wiedich Jr. said. “They’re big up front and their quarterback did a hell of a job. We just ran into a buzz saw.”
As a run-heavy team, it was crucial that the Grenadiers scored first. However, Scranton Prep won the coin toss and chose to receive, throwing GAR’s game plan to the wayside as the Cavaliers scored on its first drive of the game. Three plays into the game, Ryan ran 43 yards to the house to give Scranton Prep a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
After blocking a GAR punt in the end zone on the very next drive, Scranton Prep’s lead quickly built to nine points. And it didn’t stop there.
Ryan threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jake Grady, to give the Cavaliers a 16-0 lead with 8:04 remaining in the first quarter.
“We got punched right in the mouth and our kids weren’t able to respond. It was like that the whole night,” Wiedich said.
With Ryan stealing the show early in the first quarter, Gilmartin joined the fun. The junior running back scored a pair of touchdowns on the Cavaliers’ next two drives.
Gilmartin finished the game with 173 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
“He did a heck of a job,” Wiedich said. “The Prep staff prepared their kids really well. We thought (Ricky) Morgan (would be a factor). They’re going to be tough to beat in the state playoffs.”
Just as the Cavaliers’ offense gave GAR problems, their defense was just as effective. GAR didn’t get its first, first down until the end of the first quarter.
Facing a 40-0 hole at the break, the Grenadiers were able to create some chances in the second half.
Senior running back Joshua Goodwin scored a 7-yard rushing touchdown, cutting the deficit to 40-6 with 19.6 remaining in the third quarter, to prevent the shutout. Ten minutes later, Qualls threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Yelland, on a halfback pass, to cut it to 40-14.
While the outcome wasn’t what the Grenadiers wanted, Wiedich was proud his team was able to reach the title game.
“I’m proud of our kids for fighting through adversity the whole season, and getting here was a big thing,” Wiedich said. “Coming out (in the second half), (Prep) played (its) second and third kids and we kept plugging away. It’s a shame the way the season ended, but I can’t be more proud.”
Scranton Prep will play the District 4 champion on Nov. 14 or 15.
District 2 Class 3A Championship
Scranton Prep 40, GAR 14
GAR`0`0`6`8`—`14
Scranton Prep`30`10`0`0`—`40
First quarter
S — Jake Ryan 43 run (Alec Buttner kick), 10:50
S — Blocked punt for safety, 8:52
S — Jake Grady 33 pass from Ryan (Buttner kick), 8:04
S — Matt Gilmartin 3 run (Buttner kick), 3:36
S — Gilmartin 27 run (Buttner kick), 1:25
Second quarter
S — Ryan 1 run (Buttner kick), 5:17
S — Buttner 27 field goal, 0:00
Third quarter
G — Joshua Goodwin 7 run (2-point pass no good), 0:19
Fourth quarter
G — Austin Yelland 36 pass from Tashawn Qualls (2-point pass good), 2:14
Team statistics`GAR`SP
First downs`6`15
Rushes-yards`24-53`45-328
Passing yards`129`58
Total yards`182`386
Passing`3-9-1`2-3-0
Sacked-yards lost`4-26`0-0
Punts-avg.`4-26`0-0
Fumbles-lost`3-0`1-0
Penalties-yards`4-40`1-5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — GAR, Joshua Goodwin 8-41-1, Tashawn Qualls 1-6, Mike Drozda 2-3, Austin Yelland 13-3. SP, Matt Gilmartin 17-173-2, Jake Ryan 5-60-2, Brayden Mcallister 13-55, Joe Walsh 1-19, Braden Burrier 1-7, Ryan Cosgrove 1-7, Brian Dwyer 2-5, Leo O’Boyle 1-3, Luke Johnson 1-2, Cullen Chesnick 3-(minus-3).
PASSING — GAR, Austin Yelland 2-7-93-0, Tashawn Qualls 1-1-36-1, Muhaideen Tajuddin 0-1-0-0. SP, Jake Ryan 2-3-58-1.
RECEIVING — GAR, Tashawn Qualls 2-93, Austin Yelland 1-36-1. SP, Jake Grady 1-33-1, Sam Dickson 1-25.
INTERCEPTIONS — GAR, None. SP, Jake Grady 1-0.
MISSED FGs — None.
