SMETHPORT ROLLS OVER EISENHOWER ON HOMECOMING

WEEK FIVE

By Paul Costa for D9Sports.Com

SMETHPORT -- Homecoming in Smethport brought the Eisenhower Knights to town in Week 5, and the alumni were sent home happy with a 35-12 Hubber win.

The Hubbers' trio of captains, Steve Bartas, Jeff Shostak, and Dan Mitchell all figured prominently in the night's outcome.

Early in the first quarter quarterback Shostak rode his fullback Chuck Duffy into the line pulling the ball at the last second and sprinting around left end for what appeared to be a 55-yard touchdown.

The deception was so convincing, however, that the referee whistled the play dead when Duffy was finally hauled down. Shostak by that time was 30 yards downfield and all alone, but the touchdown was not allowed to stand.

Still smarting from the early whistle, the Hubbers knuckled down and continued their drive to the end zone with Dan Mitchell finding paydirt from two yards out. Shostak pulled the snap out from under his kicker and hit a wide open Mitchell for the 2-point conversion and an early 8-0 lead.

As the first half was drawing to a close, Shostak threw a laser into the end zone which was momentarily juggled then hauled in by junior receiver Craig Kandare. Nick Vandermark booted the extra point for a 15-0 lead.

The Knights refused to give up, and, aided by a huge penalty, moved into Hubber territory with less than 30 seconds to go in the half. A pass to tight end Ryan Irwin was broken up by Hubber D-back Dave Thomas, but the Knights senior receiver lay in a heap at the 27 yard line.

With 28 seconds to go before half time, the game was delayed some 20 minutes while Irwin was strapped onto a gurney and wheeled to the ambulance. A report on his condition is not available at this time.

Following the injury, the Hubbers defense seemed a little lethargic, and the Knights took quick advantage.

A long pass to flanker Aaron Rodgers resulted in a sprint to the end zone with Rodgers eluding the Hub's Thomas for the score. Thomas redeemed himself somewhat on the conversion when he intercepted the try for two.

The second half was delayed for close to 30 minutes while both bands and the Homecoming court occupied the field.

Receiving to start the third quarter, the Hubs marched towards the end zone. An errant pass snuffed out the drive as the Knights interecepted and set up shop deep in their own territory.

Facing a fourth-and-two from their own 47-yard line the Knights elected to go for it. Defensive end Rich Bierbower roared into the Eisenhower backfield and dropped fullback Tom Kibbey for a sizable loss.

Moving down inside the visitor's 30-yard line, the Hubbers went again to Dan Mitchell who raced untouched 28 yards for the Hubs' third score. Vandermark's kick was true, and Smethport increased their lead to 22-6 with 5:27 left in the third quarter.

Three minutes later, Shostak found Steve Bartas in the back of the end zone and drilled him between the numbers for a 28-6 lead. The PAT failed.

Closing out the Hubber scoring with a little more than four minutes to go in the game Bartas lept high in the end zone to haul in his second Shostak touchdown pass of the game. This time the kick was good and the Hubbers were done scoring leading 35-6.

Smethport coach Carl Defilippi freely substituted, and Eisenhower drove the length of the field for their final score. A nice run by Jacoby Curtis gave the Knights their second score with 57 ticks left on the clock. Duffy broke into the backfield on the PAT and ruined the try for two.

Offensivley for the Hubbers Dan Mitchell had 103 yards on 13 carries. He scored two touchdowns as did Steve Bartas. Defensively senior lineback Eric Raydo was credited with 13 tackles. The Hubbers now 5-0 and are at Sheffield next Saturday.