Properly handling a game your team is heavily favored to win can come with some challenges, however the Lions handled every facet of Friday’s game against New Oxford with ease.
Even with the distraction of homecoming Red Lion piled up 421 yards on the ground, and went on to post a 63-14 victory over the Colonials.
Coach Jesse Shay’s message to the team during the week was a simple one.
“What separates the good teams from the great teams is the great teams don’t care who they are playing against,” the coach said.
“This is our second week in a row without a punt. That’s borderline ridiculous. To score 49 points in the first half, we handled our business. In the second half, every starter was out. I thought our young kids played well.”
Dylan Gurreri caught a touchdown pass and ran for another. Pat Daugherty ran for a score and returned a pick-6 to close out a 49-point first half. Sam Emig had a touchdown throwing and rushing and Denny Dennison returned a punt 48 yards for a score.
Shay pointed out the play of junior Zach Throne, who not only starts at cornerback, but also serves as the Lions’ backup quarterback. Throne earned the praise on Friday, lining up in the backfield with Emig and running 33 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. Later, while at quarterback, Throne avoided several tackled and ran off a 90-yard score.
“We put in a couple of packages with he and Sam in the backfield,” Shay said. “In a game where seven people scored for us, he had two touchdowns. He’s a great kid, he works hard. Most other teams, he would be a starting quarterback. All he cares about is helping the team.”
Still unbeaten Red Lion will turn its sights on a Central York team that has surprised many this season with a 5-2 record, 3-1 in Divisio
n I. The Panthers have won two straight, including last week’s 35-21 victory at Spring Grove. Shay is concerned with Central quarterback Cade Pribula, who is having a terrific sophomore season.
“He’s going to be problem for us the next three years. They are Central, they’ve got playmakers,” he said. “We are not going to change things up. We are going to run the ball and try to control the clock.”
Central York roster
