This land is Smeland’s: RB goes off
Senior racks up 227 rushing yards, scores 4 TDs to lead Pirates to big victory
Palisades High School senior running back Mason Smeland produced many stellar plays Friday night on his way to 227 yards rushing and four touchdowns.
No play, however, stood out more in the Pirates’ 35-27 Colonial League opening win at Northern Lehigh than his 81-yard touchdown dash midway through the third quarter.
Northern Lehigh, playing its first game of the season compared to Palisades’ third, seized momentum and the lead when wide-open Trevor Amorin caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Smoyer. The score was set up when Palisades jumped offside — on a fourth-and-4 situation.
Onthe first play from scrimmage after Amorin’s touchdown, Smeland burst through the left side of the line, shed a would-be tackler and sprinted to the end zone to quickly tie the score.
“My fullback Ben Haubert led the way and [tackle] Gavin [Kreshollek] sealed his man,” said Smeland, who scored on runs of 5 and 55 and caught a 16-yard TD pass. “Our team is definitely a secondhalf team.”
Palisades quarterback Jaden Newton alertly jumped on a loose ball in the end zone for the go-ahead score after he missed connections on the handoff with Haubert on fourth-and-goal.
“They kind of blew the play up,” said Newton, who completed his first eight passes for 109 yards. “It was kind of my fault so I had to get the ball.”
Northern Lehigh remained undeterred. Matt Frame’s 3-yard run with 2:34 left capped a a 13-play, 80-yard drive to draw the Bulldogs to within 28-27. Coach Joe Tout opted for the go-ahead two-point try, but Palisades swarmed
Frame in the backfield to preserve the lead.
Smeland then added his 55-yard TD run.
“I think people nowknowwhoMason Smel Piraand is,” said Palisades coach Ramie Moussa. “He’s just a dude, man. They had 10 men in the box trying to stop him.”
Nick Petrillo intercepted Smoyer’s last-second Hail Mary to end the game.
Mike Repsher led Northern Lehigh with 97 yards on 12 carries and opened the scoring with a 60-yard run in the first quarter. Frame finished with 65 yards on 15 attempts.