09/16/06
OHS gets going against Unatego
Seroka, Hopkins rally Jackets to 31-22 victory
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
By P.J. Harmer
Staff Writer
ONEONTA — Mike Seroka should get
| | | Star photo by Julie Lewis
Oneonta High’s Mike Hopkins runs for a first down behind the blocking of Eric Tietjen during the second quarter of Friday’s Section Four Football Conference non-division game against visiting Unatego. Hopkins finished with 123 rushing yards and a touchdown to help the Yellowjackets to a 31-22 victory. |
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roughed up more often.
Seroka said he got a headache after a hard tackle ended his 53-yard gain on the second play of the Friday’s Section Four Football Conference non-division game against Unatego.
Seroka toughed it out, though, finishing with 176 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries to lead the Yellowjackets to a 31-22 defeat of Unatego in front of an estimated 1,200 fans at Lloyd Baker Field.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Unatego (2-1) entered the game as the state’s 12th-ranked team in Class C.
"They are a really good team and we knew they’d be tough," Seroka said. "I just had to keep going."
Seroka’s second touchdown came with 5 minutes, 29 seconds to play in the third quarter — after the Yellowjackets blew a 20-0 first-half lead.
Trailing, 22-20, Oneonta (2-0) used a nine-play, 65-yard drive that took 4:40 off the clock. Seroka had five carries for 32 yards during the drive, including an 11-yard TD run to give the Yellowjackets a 26-22 lead. Mike Hopkins followed with a two-point conversion run for a 28-22 advantage.
"Their offensive line played extremely well and opened huge holes," Unatego coach John Mushtare said. "I told my guys that they were getting better each week and would come after us."
Hopkins complemented Seroka with 123 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
"All I kept thinking was to keep driving my feet," Hopkins said. "Every single play they were trying to strip the ball, so it was a hard task."
Brandon Southard’s 30-yard field goal capped the scoring with 7:50 left. Facing a fourth-and-6 from Unatego’s 13-yard-line, Oneonta coach Adam Hoover sent in back-up placekicker Southard, whose kick cleared the crossbar on the left side.
"That was a gutsy call by coach Hoover," Mushtare said. "It put us back on our heels and we never recovered from it."
Southard subbed in for Matt Marcewicz, who was on the sideline after injuring a foot on defense earlier in the game.
"I just had to do it and we needed it," Southard said. "It was pretty high. I just was hoping it would go over."
Seconds before kicking, Southard didn’t seem too worried, Hoover said.
"I asked him if he could make it and at first, I don’t think he knew what I meant," Hoover said. "I asked him again and he said ’I guarantee I’ll make it.’ It wasn’t the prettiest thing, but it worked."
Oneonta scored on its first two possessions — an 8-yard run from A.J. Herrmann and a 6-yard TD from Seroka, whose touchdown capped a nine-play, 60-yard drive that took 5:06 off the clock in the opening quarter.
The Yellowjackets made it 20-0 with 6:33 to play in the second on a 7-yard run from Hopkins. He capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive.
Unatego quickly responded. Alex Hendrickson scored on a 71-yard run with 5:59 to go in the quarter to make it 20-6. Hendrickson was hit at the line but broke through the middle, stepped over a low tackle attempt, broke to his right, and went untouched the rest of the way.
After forcing a three-and-out, Unatego went to work again. Oneonta stopped Allen Knowlton for a 1-yard loss on the first play, but quarterback Kyle Palmer connected with Knowlton for 17 yards, then hit Hendrickson for a 48-yard TD with 2:25 to go in the half.
"We knew they were big-play capable," Hoover said. "They have six or seven touchdowns of 50 yards or longer this year. We knew they could score from anywhere."
The Spartans took their only lead with 10:09 to go in the third period. Palmer, who completed 6 of 13 passes for 194 yards, hit Owen Moss for a 55-yard score.
"Our guys are explosive and a lot of our scores are on short drives and long plays," Mushtare said. "We’re never out of a game. We can score in a hurry."
• Bainbridge-Guilford (3-0) beat Hancock, 52-8, Friday night. Statistics were not available at press time.
