Williamsport edges Catoctin

September 15, 2000

Williamsport edges Catoctin

By CURT HORNBECKER / Staff Correspondent

WILLIAMSPORT - Consistent is not the right word to describe Williamsport's defensive effort Friday night, but Eric Michael can live with it.

Catoctin scored on a pair of three-play drives totaling 97 yards but, with the game on the line, the Wildcats stiffened, preserving a 19-12 win over the Cougars in a Monocacy Valley Athletic League game.

Twice in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats' defense denied a possible Catoctin scoring opportunity.

"I keep harping on them about our tradition of playing good defense," said Michael. "We're a young team. We have a bunch of guys playing in their first varsity game."

The critical defensive stand came late in the fourth period, when a Kevin Favorite fumble recovery gave Catoctin a first down on its 47, but Williamsport limited the Cougars to just six yards in four plays to clinch the win.

It was in the first half that Williamsport won the game, taking a 19-6 lead into halftime, behind a running game sparked by Danny Rand and Matt Allen. Behind Allen, the Wildcats drove 57 yards on 13 plays for a 7-0 lead with Nathan Henderson scoring from the 2. Then, Rand rumbled 41 yards for 13-0 Williamsport advantage with 9:15 left in the half.

Catoctin responded with Aaron Veneble capping a three-play drive with a 35-yard romp 51 seconds later, but a Kyle Wilson interception and 28-yard return on the Cougars' next series set up Allen's 1-yard TD run with 2:25 left.

"(The Wildcats) won the first half," said Catoctin coach Doug Williams. "It wasn't even close. We lost the game in the first half."

Williamsport ended the game as Brian Fox's 43-yarder died on Catoctin's 2 in the final minute.