Gavin, Cavaliers pull away
SC uses gadget play to grab early lead, notch road win
Mason Gavin has usually been the primary passer on touchdowns for South Carroll this season.
But on the Cavaliers’ opening drive, they brought out some trickery.
Gavin tossed a pitch wide right to running back Dylan O’Neill, but the junior had no intention of running.
O’Neill unleashed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Gallagher — one of three SC touchdown passes — as the Cavs paved their way to a 33-7 victory Thursday over Francis Scott Key.
The Cavaliers improved to 4-4, 2-2 in Carroll County with the road win.
A balanced attack on both sides of the ball helped SC jump out to an early 13-0 lead in the first quarter.
Four plays after Gallagher’s touchdown grab, Drew Downing scooped up a fumble and barreled his way 41 yards down the left field sideline for a touchdown.
FSK (3-5, 0-4) saw their best scoring opportunities in the first half.
The Eagles drove down to the Cavs’ 9-yard line, but Steven Keeney’s pass intended for Trace Shiftlet in the left corner of the end zone fell incomplete on fourth down.
The senior quarterback would make up for a missed opportunity one drive later as a face mask penalty set up FSK with a first-and-goal from the 4.
Keeney took the keeper 4 yards in for the touchdown.
But for every Eagles opportunity, the Cavs provided an answer.
With 3:18 left in the half, Gallagher was on the receiving end of his second touchdown — this time on a 21-yard pass from Gavin.
Gavin came into the night doing most of his damage on the ground but provided the bulk of his efforts through the air.
South Carroll took a 20-7 lead into the half.
A sloppy second half from both sides saw multiple turnovers on downs, missed opportunities and plenty of penalties.
FSK made a quarterback change late in the second quarter as Reese Sauter took over for Keeney, who was forced out of the game due to injury, but Key’s Wing-T offensive attack struggled to find success.
Maxwell Moore and the Cavaliers’ defensive line held Corey Goodman, the county’s fifth-leading rusher, and the rest of the Eagles stagnant at the line of scrimmage for most of the game.
Early in the fourth quarter, Gavin helped put the finishing touches on SC’s victory.
He found JJ Blazek on a 44-yard touchdown pass and scored a 21-yard quarterback keeper just eight minutes later.
South Carroll is back at home next Friday for the penultimate game of the regular season and host Manchester Valley.
FSK heads on the road to Eldersburg to take face Liberty.