Tartans bounce back, roll over Warriors

Andrew Tabbert and Daniel Zeglen formed a nice one-two punch on offense and got help from Nicholas Schaub on defense as Scotia-Glenville downed Averill Park, 34-22, in a Class B Southeast Division game Friday night.

“We were ready for this game. We’ve been ready since we lost to Troy, 55-6,” said Tabbert, who scored two touchdowns. “All week, we’ve been pumped, and we were just ready to play this game. We were ready to get our first win at home this year.”

Late in the first quarter, Zeglen caught a short Averill Park punt at the visitors’ 36. Zeglen connected with Tabbert for a 26-yard pass, and Scotia-Glenville moved to the 10. Tabbert got the call and ran to the corner of the end zone for a touchdown with 17.6 seconds left and a 7-0 advantage.

On its next possession, Averill Park primarily kept the ball on the ground. Quarterback Taylor Hotaling went up the middle and Garret Ryan’s two-point conversion put Averill Park on top, 8-7.

Dontrevius Porter returned the kickoff 19 yards to the Scotia 34. Once again, Zeglen found Tabbert open for a 55-yard pass and the Tartans were first-and-goal at the three. Three plays later, Zeglen sneaked in the end zone from one yard out and a 14-8 lead with 2:21 left in the first half.

The Scotia-Glenville defense took the spotlight as Schaub picked off a Hotaling pass and raced 55 yards for a touchdown and went ahead, 21-8, at halftime.

“Absolutely, absolutely that was big,” said Scotia-Glenville head coach Kevin Warren. “All these kids go out there, and give 110 per cent all the time. It [interception] was definitely a momentum swing for us. We told them they’re a second-half team and will come back and play.”

It didn’t take long for the Warriors to get back in the game. Collin Fleming returned the kickoff 40 yards to midfield.

Fleming picked up five yards and then Matt LaBounty burst through the middle for 35 yards and Averill Park was moving.

Fleming took a handoff from Hotaling and scored from 10 yards away and LaBounty’s two-point conversion brought the Warriors closer, 21-16.

Scotia-Glenville’s offense was in high gear all night. Starting from its 20, a big 43-yard run by Tabbert gave the Tartans good field position at the 35. Porter added 20 yards and three plays later, Tabbert scored on a five-yard touchdown run and the Tartans were on top, 28-16, with 8:29 left in the third quarter.

But Averill Park didn’t stop there. LaBounty tacked on another Averill Park touchdown from 14 yards away and cut the deficit to 28-22.

Scotia-Glenville needed one big drive and another score to put itself in good position. That happened in the fourth quarter with a 15-play, 87-yard scoring drive culminated by Porter’s 16-yard scoring aerial from Zeglen and put the finishing touches on the win.

The Tartans received some luck on the play. Zeglen threw the ball in the end zone and it deflected off Fleming and into the hands of Porter.

“I’m trying to work on my blocking. I’m trying to get better at that. That’s one thing I can definitely improve,” said Tabbert. “I just try to help my team get us first downs, get us touchdowns, keep our offense running. The running sets up our pass plays. This is just great for our momentum going into Mohon. This is keeping our team ready and go into that game just as pumped up as we were today.”

The Tartans rushed for 235 yards on 30 carries. Zeglen had 13 rushes for 101 yards. Tabbert added 80 yards on 10 carries. Zeglen had a fine all around game with 11-for-16 passing and 152 yards. His favorite target was Tabbert, four catches for 100 yards.

Averill Park 0 8 14 0 — 22

Scotia-Glenville 7 14 7 6 — 34

SG — Tabbert 10 run (Van Auken kick)

AP — Hotaling 3 run (Ryan run)

SG — Zeglen 1 run (Van Auken kick)

SG — Schaub 55 interception (Van Auken kick)

AP — Fleming 10 run (Ryan run)

SG — Tabbert 5 run (Van Auken kick)

AP — LaBounty 14 run (pass failed)

SG — Porter 16 pass from Zeglen (pass failed)