Leopards hold off Tuscarora

September 19, 2004|by JACK HILL III/Staff Correspondent

SMITHSBURG - After watching their 27-7 lead shrink to a 27-25 edge, the Smithsburg Leopards knew that they had to do something to keep Tuscarora from getting a comeback win.

No. 4 Smithsburg marched the ball down the field and iced the game with 1 minute, 24 seconds remaining on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Josh Daniels to give the Leopards a 34-25 win over the Titans on Saturday.

"It was exciting," Smithsburg coach Buddy Orndorff said. "Tuscarora is really a nice football team. They did some things offensively that we had trouble with."

"The bottom line is that we did not give up," Orndorff added. "When we kicked that final extra point in the final two minutes of the game to put us up by nine points, that put them in a position where they had to score twice."

Justin Thompson intercepted a pass for Smithsburg at the 50-yard line and returned it five yards with 44 seconds to go in the game to seal the victory.

Thompson also contributed on offense with 105 rushing yards on 16 carries and touchdown runs of 4 and 61 yards.

Matt Feiser had 21 carries for 164 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown run, while Matt Thompson had two interceptions - one he returned for a touchdown - and a fumble recovery for the Leopards (3-0).

"They're a good team," Tuscarora coach Shawn Carey said. "I think that Smithsburg was more physical than what I thought they would be. They absolutely controlled the line of scrimmage and that is one big reason why they won."

Junior quarterback Chris Castro finished with 180 passing yards - all of them to junior wide receiver Mitchell Weedon - for Tuscarora (1-2). Castro and Weedon connected on touchdown passes of 45 and 79 yards.

Eric Means added a 31-yard touchdown run and Cruz Mannherz had a 27-yard touchdown run for Tuscarora.

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