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OLD FORGE FOOTBALL

Malkolm gets mischievous on Devils’ Night

Blue Devils stay unbeaten as Blackshear has hand in three TDs

By Rick Notari rnotari@psdispatch.com
Pittston Sunday Dispatch Staff Writer

Old Forge all-purpose back Malkolm Blackshear made the return trip to where his playing days began a memorable one as the Blue Devils stomped Mid Valley, 28-6, on Devils’ Night, Friday, at Spartan Stadium in Throop.

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Pictured above, Old Forge all-purpose back Malkolm Blackshear fights for extra yardage during the Blue Devils 28-6 win over Mid Valley on Friday night. Below left, Brian Morris runs away from a Mid Valley tackler and into the endzone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Below right, Dave Argust breaks away from a tackle during his 42-yard touchdown reception; and Kyle Holland records a sack.

photos by rick notari

click image to enlarge

Pictured above, Old Forge all-purpose back Malkolm Blackshear fights for extra yardage during the Blue Devils 28-6 win over Mid Valley on Friday night. Below left, Brian Morris runs away from a Mid Valley tackler and into the endzone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Below right, Dave Argust breaks away from a tackle during his 42-yard touchdown reception; and Kyle Holland records a sack.

photos by rick notari

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The dazzling junior began his football career for the Spartans as a freshman quarterback before transferring to Old Forge as a sophomore. So while Mid Valley fans got a glimpse of how mischievous Blackshear can be on the gridiron, Blue Devil fans just sat back and enjoyed another outstanding all-around performance by its newest star as he threw two touchdown passes and ran for another.

“This game has been circled on my calendar since Week 1 after Riverside,” said Blackshear of the matchup with Mid Valley. “I couldn’t wait to come here and show them what I do.”

After a scoreless first quarter in which both teams totaled just 78 yards during five possessions, the Old Forge defense put its offense in position for its first score.

AJ Grasso’s tackle in the backfield of Gage Wormuth on a screen pass on first down, and a sack by Michael Tagliaferri on third down forced a Mid Valley punt from its own 15 yard line. The Spartans punt traveled to the Old Forge 48, but after Brian Morris made a fair catch, Mid Valley was whistled for a personal foul away from the play to set up the Blue Devils at the Spartans 38.

Eight plays later, Blackshear found Morris down the right hash mark for a 25-yard touchdown pass and a 6-0 lead with 5:46 left in the second quarter. Kevin Conze booted the first of his four extra-points on the night and Old Forge (9-0) took a 7-0 lead.

“Malkolm saw a read off the defensive coverage and told me to go right down the middle,” said Morris. “He put the pass right on the money and I was able to get in the endzone.”

Mid Valley tried to answer the score on an 11-play drive. But on the eighth play, the Spartans where flagged for offsides on first-and-10 from the Old Forge 29. The penalty stemmed the tide for the Blue Devils as Spartans quarterback Chris Washo threw incomplete on first-and-15 before being sacked by Mike Matisko and Kyle Holland for a six-yard loss on second down. Another penalty backed the Spartans up to the Old Forge 45 before time ran out in the first half.

“We pride ourselves on the defense,” said Head Coach Mike Schuback. “Our guys up front are playing so consistently right now and I couldn’t be prouder. We started those three kids (Kyle Holland, Mark Zambetti and AJ Grasso) as sophomores and we did it to see where we would be.

“Mid Valley is a heck of a football team and I give a lot of credit to our whole team. I’m just happy with where we are at right now.”

The second half opened with another big defensive play by the Blue Devils when Tagliaferri intercepted Washo on a pass in the flats. The turnover did not lead to points for Old Forge but it allowed the Blue Devils to gain in the field position battle.

Old Forge went three-and-out before punting to the Mid Valley 18. The Spartans could only gain seven yards before punting the ball back to the Blue Devils which Morris returned 17 yards to the Mid Valley 33.

Three plays later, Blackshear picked up two solid blocks from Tagliaferri and Kenny Paulish before weaving his way into the endzone for a 19-yard touchdown, and an Old Forge 14-0 lead with 6:53 showing in the third quarter.

“Tag and Kenny are just trying to make a play for me as I am trying to make a play for them,” said Blackshear. “When they see me down field running around they just keep blocking to get me into the open space.”

The Spartans then opened things up on offense and after two pass plays for 25 yards put them into Old Forge territory at the 42, Mid Valley ran three straight times to set up play-action on first-and-10 from the Blue Devils 32.

On first down, Washo hit Brett Howey who beat Blackshear on the play for a 32-yard score with 2:21 left in the third. But the Old Forge cornerback would atone quickly for getting beat on the play.

Blackshear came free on the point after try and blocked the extra-point to keep the score 14-6, then returned the ensuing kickoff to the Mid Valley 38 to put Old Forge in position to score again.

After two rushes on first and second down netted minus-4 yards, Blackshear found Dave Argust open for a first down out of a four-receiver set. But Argust didn’t settle for just moving the changes. The sophomore broke free of a tackle and followed a hellacious block by Connor Fultz down the home sideline for a 42-yard scoring play and a 21-6 Old Forge lead with 41 seconds left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing Mid Valley drive, the Big Blew Wrecking Crew once again made a big play.

Washo scrambled out of the pocket on a pass play and after picking up four yards was hit by a host of Blue Devils. The hit jarred the ball free and Zambetti fell on the loose pigskin to return possession to Old Forge at the Mid Valley 40.

Nine plays later, Morris carried in from five yards out for a 28-6 lead with 7:21 remaining in the game.

“It felt good to get back out here and get back with my teammates,” said Morris who did not play last week because of an ankle injury. “Anytime you get within the red zone you want to punch it in. Whenever you get that close you’re going to smell the endzone and do whatever you can to get in.”

The Spartans tried to mount one last scoring drive, but Matisko and Grasso sacked Washo on fourth-and-6 to give the ball back to the Blue Devils.

“All we heard was about their front eight so we wanted to get it done tonight,” said Grasso, a two-way lineman. “We knew if we won the battle in the trenches this game would be over. We had to dominate up front and we did.

“Morris and Malkolm just had to find the holes. The spotlight is on them, but they give us credit up front. There is no jealousy on this team. If we can play like this, the sky is the limit.”

Devil Details

Morris went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season with his 21-carry, 106-yard performance. His season total is now 1,099 and his career mark stands at 2,725…. Blackshear rushed for 35 yards and a score and threw for 81 yards and two scores. He also added 58 yards on two kickoff returns…. Quarterback Mike Mancuso was 3-for-4 passing for 30 yards, including an important 21-yard completion to Fultz on second-and-19 during the Blue Devils last scoring drive…. Fultz caught two passes for 27 yards…. Morris and Argust both caught two passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Argust’s touchdown was the first of his varsity career…. Junior OLB Alex Enciso led the defense with 11 tackles…. Junior ILB Brandon Souryavong made nine tackles, forced a fumble and broke up a pass…. Tagliaferri made seven stops on the night, including two tackles for loss to go with a sack, two passes broken up and an interception…. Grasso added five tackles and half-a-sack…. Holland had four tackles and 1.5 sacks, and Zambetti had four tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery…. The Blue Devils are 9-0 for the first time since 1987…. Old Forge will take on Susquehanna on Friday night as they try to complete the perfect regular-season in front of their parents on Parents’ Night.