MECHANICSBURG – Mechanicsburg pounded Southeastern, 48-0, for its 10th consecutive win Friday night, capping off a perfect regular season for the Indians, who are also OHC champs.
“It’s an unbelievable group of kids,” M’burg Coach Kurt Forrest said. “We set a very simple goal at the beginning of the season – leave no doubt. And I think these kids, with the season they’ve put forth so far, have absolutely left no doubt as to what they’ve accomplished and the type of team they are.”
The Indians had a big first half, scoring on a punt return and a fumble recovery in addition to passing and rushing touchdowns.
Standout quarterback Kaleb Romero got things started with a 71-yard touchdown on a punt return and gave M’burg a 13-0 lead after a quarter with an 11-yard pass to Jacob Bowers.
In the second quarter, MHS exploded.
Romero found Colton McMannis for a 3-yard score on the first snap of the quarter, then followed that up with a weaving, field-reversing 40-yard touchdown run on Mechanicsburg’s next possession. He found Bobby Welch for an 11-yard touchdown with less than five minutes left for a 34-0 lead.
Mechanicsburg’s defense took over after that, recovering a fumble that allowed the offense to punch it in again with Wade Smiddy’s 1-yard run. Less than a minute later, Cannon Propst scooped up another fumble and returned it 20 yards to extend the Indians’ lead to 48-0.
The second half featured a running clock and more MHS dominance – this time in possession, as the Indians rapidly milked the clock.
The reserves started after intermission for the Indians on both sides of the ball. Alex Rhine intercepted a pass in the end zone early in the third quarter to end Southeastern’s only threat of the game.
Gavin Erwin kept the chains and the clock moving for Mechanicsburg with some hard-nosed running.
“When those young guys get a chance, they know what the older guys have done and they don’t want to let them down,” Forrest said.
Mechanicsburg (10-0) will likely host a first-round game in the Division VI, Region 22 playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 7.
