5M Sports

September 12, 2009

GAR runs wild in win vs. Northwest

By John Erzar jerzar@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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SHICKSHINNY – Not often do rushing performances of 158 and 135 yards get upstaged, but GAR junior tailback Kurtis Thomas managed to do so Friday night.

The first-year starter turned in his second impressive game, rushing for 208 yards and three touchdowns as the Grenadiers overwhelmed Northwest on the ground for a 48-28 non-conference football victory.

Thomas, who had 189 yards last week against Holy Redeemer, scored all three of his TDs in the first half as GAR (2-0) built a 21-7 lead. His backfield mates then did a number in the third quarter as the Grenadiers took a 41-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

Wingback Darrell Crawford scored on a 58-yard TD run in the third as part of a five-carry, 158-yard night. Fullback Cody Welgosh had the longest run for GAR, a 70-yarder that was part of a seven-carry, 135-yard, two-touchdown game.

Thomas, though, showed against a better defense in week two that he is capable of filling a huge void – replacing graduated Times Leader Player of the Year Ryan Womack and backup Godson Tandoh, who was talented enough to start for several Wyoming Valley Conference teams last season.

“It feels pretty good,” Thomas said. “I learned from the best – Ryan Womack. I can’t forget my line, though. That’s the thing, my line blocked well. It starts up front first.”

The GAR line of Justin Charles, Dane Dudick, Mark Glowinski, Joe Oldziejewski and Kyle Paul allowed GAR to rush for 522 yards. The blocking on counters run by Crawford was particularly outstanding.

“The line is very confident with each other,” GAR coach Tony Khalife said. “They work hard and are very senior oriented. I give them a helluva lot of credit tonight. I’m sure our back would.”

Northwest (1-1) had a couple things at stake Friday night. First, the Rangers would have received a big boost in state points with a victory. Second, a win would have gained them a little more respect as they prepare to enter the WVC in 2010.

The former wasn’t accomplished; the latter was to some extent.

“They’re going to have a good season. I can see that from this game,” GAR coach Tony Khalife said. “They never quit even though we were up by three scores, four scores. Our kids kept coming at them. They got a touchdown and we’d answer with a touchdown.”

Northwest started out strongly, with quarterback Jeff Moss hooking up with John Voyton on passes of 14 and 29 yards. The initial drive ended in a missed 35-yard field goal, but the Rangers cut into GAR’s 14-0 lead on an 80-yard TD run by Bret Rutkoski late in the first quarter.

Rutkoski finished with 158 yards on 17 rushes and receiver Steve Merth grabbed four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, but GAR was able to offset any momentum Northwest was able to build.

“There were too many mental breakdowns,” Northwest coach Carl Majer said. “They basically ran three plays at us and we couldn’t stop them. Hats off to them. They played a better football game than we did tonight.”

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