Selinsgrove beats Shamokin behind its defense

COAL TOWNSHIP  — With senior cornerback Brett Foor on crutches, and the Shamokin passing offense on the docket for Friday night, Selinsgrove coach Derek Hicks had every right to be concerned.

However, a strong pass rush, along with some inspired play from juniors Nate Aument and Conner Grover on the outside, the Seals limited the Indians to just 72 yards through the air — Brett Nye has thrown for at least 250 yards in each of the Indians' last three games — and Selinsgrove scored on its first two possessions on its way to 20-7 victory over the Indians at Kemp Memorial Stadium.

"I thought our secondary played a great game. We have some things to clean up (on the front for next week)," Selinsgrove coach Derek Hicks said. "Without Brett, I thought both Grove and Aument played a great game."

Nate Aument added: "Conner Grove did a great job, shutting down the opposite side. They had me staying on the wide side of the field."

Selinsgrove's defense limited Billy Delbaugh (29.8 yards per catch) to just five catches for 31 yards. In addition to the secondary, the Seals pass rush played a huge roll as well, picking up five sacks, while senior Nate Schon dominated two blockers most of the game as the Indians had just three first downs midway through the third quarter. 

Take away Max Madden's 61-yard TD run in the third quarter, and the Seals allowed just 101 yards on 52 plays in the game. It's the sixth time in seven games the Selinsgrove (4-3) defense has allowed one score or less in a game.

The Indians (4-3) had the ball to open the game, and Delbaugh took an end-around nearly 70 yards inside the 10 on the first play from scrimmage, only to see it called back due to a hold. Shamokin was forced to punt, and Selinsgrove took over on its own 49.

On a third-and-five from the Shamokin 34, Teague Hoover took an off-tackle handoff, and went down the right side to give Selinsgrove a 7-0 with 7:22 left in the first quarter. Schon stopped the next drive, blowing up a third-down pass, allowing Aaron Rothermel and Corey Rumburger combined to sack Nye.

The Seals went 69 yards in nine plays, scoring on Brandon Hile's short two-yard surge into the end zone with 33.5 seconds left in the first quarter. The big play on the drive was a 52-yard pass from Coy Bastian to fullback Ryan Aument down to the Shamokin 4. The PAT was missed, giving the Seals a 13-0 advantage.

Niether team did much offensively until Madden's third-quarter TD run that came with 3:27 left in the stanza. Madden picked up about 10 yards on the play, but bowled over the Selinsgrove tackler, and outraced the rest of the defense for the touchdown.

The Shamokin defense stopped Selinsgrove on a three-and-out, with momentum seemingly swing towards the Indians, the Selinsgrove defense stopped back-to-back runs for no gain, then after a penalty, stopped Delbaugh for a two-yard loss back to the Indians 19. Hile took the ensuing on the run at midfield and returned it 13 yards to the Shamokin 38.

Ryan Aument had two big plays on the ensuing scoring drive. Ian Paul shot the gap perfectly, and got Bastian and Aument immediately at the handoff point. Aument was able to break free three-yard behind the line, and turn it into a nine-yard run for a first down. Two plays later, he caught an 11-yard pass to set the Seals up at the Shamokin 2. Bastian scored from there to give the Seals a 20-7 lead with 8:45 left in the game.

"It was 13-0 at the half, and Shamokin was able to score," Hicks said. "Credit to our guys, we settled back in on defense, and gave the offense a short field," Hicks said. "(The offense) capitalize, and we were able to put the game away."

If the game ends there, it's an almost perfect evening for the Seals. They avenged an earlier 16-0 loss and clinched home field for next week's District 4 Class 4A semifinal with the Indians for a rubber match next week.

However, Shamokin drove to the Selinsgrove 24 on its next possession, but Hile and Ryan Aument stopped Madden for a seven-yard loss, and Schon sacked Nye on fourth-and-18 to end the drive, but in the process, Schon slammed Nye to the ground. It earned the senior an ejection and he'll have to miss the next two games.

"It's a shame for Nate, he just got back, and he's a senior," Hicks said. "But, we've played without him before (this season). It will have to be next man up."

SELINSGROVE 20, SHAMOKIN 7

Selinsgrove (4-3)`13`0`0`7 — 20

Shamokin (4-3)`0`0`7`0 — 7

SCORING SUMMARY

First quarter

Sel-Teague Hoover 34 run (Kyle Ruhl kick)

Sel-Brandon Hile 3 run (kick failed)

Third quarter

Sham-Max Madden 61 run (Carson Ososkie kick)

Fourth quarter

Sel-Coy Bastian 1 run (Ruhl kick)

Team statistics

`Sel`Sham

First downs`7`7

Rushes-net yards`45-106`32-90

Passing yards`67`72

Passing`3-4-0`11-21-0

Fumbles-lost`2-0`2-0

Penalties-yards`10-73`6-50

Individual statistics

RUSHING — Selinsgrove: Teague Hoover 11-52, TD; Brandon Hile 13-28, TD; Ryan Aument 8-17; Coy Bastian 9-13, TD; Ryan Straub 2-2; team 2-(-6). Shamokin: Max Madden 14-100, TD; Aaron Frasch 6-12; Ian Paul 3-5; Tyler Whary 1-0; Billy Delbaugh 2-(-3); Brett Nye 6-(-24).

PASSING – Selinsgrove: Bastian 3-4-0 for 67 yards. Shamokin: Nye 11-21-0 for 72 yards.

RECEIVING — Selinsgrove: Aument 3-67. Shamokin: Delbaugh 5-31; Ryder Zulkowski 3-23; Frasch 1-10; Colin Seedor 1-7; Whary 1-1.