Mahaffey’s maturation is taking shape for SV
Saucon Valley coach Brad Trembler offered constructive criticism to quarterback Dante Mahaffey at halftime of the team’s season opener two weeks ago against Bangor.
“I told him, ‘Hey, I think you have a little more time in the pocket,” Trembler said. “‘I think you’re quick to escape.’” Mahaffey agreed.
The junior watched film after the Panthers’ loss, then proved to be a quick study.
Mahaffey was unflappable with Tyler Houser and other Southern Lehigh blitzing linebackers dogging him in last Friday’s rivalry game. He threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns — including the game-winner with 84 seconds left — and ran for 68 more and a score in Saucon Valley’s 34-33 victory.
It capped a wild fourth quarter in which there were four lead changes in the final 6:24.
“He’s like a sponge trying to absorb everything,” Trembler added. “I talked to him about needing to be the same dude back there after every snap.
“Every time [Southern Lehigh] scored, he was calm. We just talked about the plan for the next series.”
Mahaffey’s maturation is partly born out of his relationship with best friend and fellow junior Ty Csencsits.
They worked out multiple times a day during the quarantine, and it has shown in Saucon Valley’s first two games this season. The two have connected 15 times for 256 yards and two scores.
But their biggest connection this season did not result in a touchdown.
On fourth-and-10 from the Spartans 27-yard line with 2:18 left and the Panthers trailing 33-28, Csencsits was given the choice of running a deep pattern or going to the first-down sticks. He turned to Mahaffey, who suggested going to the sticks.
Onthird and 10 in the first half, Csencsits went deep and the two connected for a 53-yard TD. That was on the minds of the Southern Lehigh defensive backs.
Csencsits went to the sticks. Mahaffey delivered a strike. First down.
“Third and long is something we’ve been used to for a long time,” Csencsits said. “We’ve been third and long our whole careers. We’ve been playing together our whole careers.
“I know if I’m open, he’s going to get it to me. It’s as simple as that.”
Two plays later, Mahaffey hit Alex Magnotta with the game winner, a 15-yard TD pass.
Two games into the 2020 season, Mahaffey has matured into one of the Colonial League’s premier playmakers. He’s doing so as he gets comfortable with a new offensive system and grows more confident in decision-making ability in the pocket.
Mahaffey had 473 passing yards in 11 games in 2019. He has 398 so far in 2020.
“I’ve learned to be more patient, to wait, to let stuff develop and trust my line,” he said. “Those fourth-down plays, it showed.
“I’m really happy that I learned from my mistakes. That’s what getting better is all about. I haven’t run a system like this ever in my life. I’m just happy I caught on quick.”
Colonial League/ Schuylkill League Week 5 stat heroes
(In alphabetical order) Matt Frame, Northern Lehigh: The junior fullback’s first score tied Saturday’s game with Wilson at 7. His second score, a 39-yard rumble, put an exclamation point on the Bulldogs’ 37-20 comeback win. In addition to rushing for 105 yards and blocking for teammates in a dominating second half, Frame also dogged Warriors runners all day at linebacker.
Jake Hall, North Schuylkill:
He completed 18 of 27 passes for 340 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-0 victory over Marian Catholic. The Spartans are 5-0 by a combined 195-54 score.
Bryce Herb/Jesse Engle, Williams Valley: The QB/WR tandem set school records in a win over Panther Valley. Herb threw four TDpasses to give him a program-best 54 for his career. Engle caught two of those scoring passes, giving him 54 in his career.
Chase Herb, Tri-Valley: He rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries in a 40-7 win over Mahanoy Area.
Justin Holmes, Northwestern: He totaled 414 yards of offense in a 57-28 win over Palmerton. The first-year varsity quarterback ran for 152 yards and four TDs. He also completed 10 of 15 passes for 262 and three scores. He helped Northwestern rack up 540 yards of offense, second most in school history.
Tyler Houser, Southern Lehigh: The junior outside linebacker spent most of Friday night in Saucon Valley’s backfield. He had 3 first-half sacks, then two tackles for no gain, another for a six-yard loss in the second half and a quarterback hurry.
Collin McKeague, PenArgyl: The senior had three catches for 84 yards and made seven tackles in a loss to Salisbury.
Nasir McLean, Catasauqua: The freshman quarterback passed for one touchdown and ran for another in a loss at Notre Dame-GP.
Joey Rivituso, Notre Dame-GP: Thesenior linebacker had 11 tackles, including two for loss in a win at Catasauqua.
Mason Smeland, Palisades: The senior running back ran for 229 yards and four touchdowns — on just 10 carries — in a win over Bangor. He is averaging 8.5 yards per carry through five games.
Cayden Stem, Wilson: The junior quarterback ran for 101 yards and completed 19 of 37 passes for 226 yards and three scores in Saturday’s loss to Northern Lehigh.
Quintin Stephens, Salisbury: The senior quarterback completed 11 of 18 passes for 163 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 11 carries for 173 yards and two scores vs. Pen Argyl.
DrewWimmer, Jim Thorpe: He had two of the Olympians’ four interceptions in a decisive win over Lehighton to keep the Route 209 trophy. Fellow junior Derryl Fisher had a pick-6 and ran for a score after Wimmer’s first INT.