Shen runs on ‘D’ and ‘D’ in victory
It was the best of both worlds Friday night for the Shenendehowa football team. The ability to throw the ball on offense and a defense that stood tall late in the contest to make the post-season picture crystal clear.
Friday’s 21-10 win over Christian Brothers Academy prevented a murky threeway tie for second place in the Empire Division.
Senior wide receiver Devin Disonell pulled in three touchdown catches from junior quarterback Brendan Belott and 6-foot, 4-inch junior defensive end Andy Weyrauch knocked down three Ben Farrell pass attempts and sacked him for a loss in the fourth quarter to help secure the regular season finale win.
Disonell finished with six catches for 81 yards and three scores, each touchdown prepped and ready for the Plainsmen season highlight reel.
“It started with a lot of good play calling from Coach (Clawson); we all talk offensively as a unit and let each other know what we’re seeing and what we’re doing. It comes from watching some film on the sideline we can see what’s opening up,” Devin Disonell said. “With the film and everyone working together to find out what’s open it’s so much easier for stuff to open up for us.”
Weyrauch, playing also as an offensive lineman gave Belott plenty of time to find Disonell down the sideline each time.
“With our line, the protection, (running back) Griffin (Wallner) just opens up the passing game and between Joe (Novenche), Cole (Vincenzi), (Jake) Altenburger all those guys in the receiving corps you can’t double any of them,” Disonell said. “We’re just playing really well, we’re happy about that game and it feels good to get that win against a good team like CBA.”
Last year Disonell was looking back to then-junior Cole Vincenzi for his passes.
“Once Belott was named the starter in one of our team camps it felt like a sense of chemistry right away,” Disonell said. “He’s just such a talented quarterback that it’s hard to not have chemistry with him just because he’s putting the ball in a perfect spot every time. The receiving corps is just opening up for me and all the way around we have so many good play makers that it’s awesome.”
The Plainsmen defense bent in the first half, allowing the Brothers to construct a seven-minute 66-yard scoring drive that resulted in a field goal. But Disonell scored twice in the half for a 14-3 lead at the break.
“They took a lot of time off the clock that was what they needed,” Shenendehowa Coach Brian Clawson said. “Ryan Fenton did a good job making some adjustments on the fly after that drive and our defense was pretty lights out the rest of the way.”
CBA’s Dylan Gotay broke loose for a 31-yard touchdown early in the third quarter before the Shenendehowa defense and Weyrauch locked it down.
“The snap count was really big,” Andy Weyrauch said. “I knew it was a third and long situation that most likely they were going to pass it, so I jumped the snap a little bit and I beat my guy with a speed rush and the quarterback didn’t see me coming so I was able to get the sack.”
His timing also improved on Farrell’s passing attempts, leading to the pressures and three blocks.
“Throughout the game I noticed his throwing mechanics and where he tended to throw the ball,” Weyrauch said. “I stayed in the zone, the receivers were normally doing out routes, they are low balls, they’re not high trajectory so I was able to get in the passing lane and knock a few down.”
Both players were part of last year’s post-season that resulted a road loss at Shaker. This year the duo has an opportunity to enjoy a run that starts at home.
“Getting the home playoff game is definitely big,” Disonell said. “I know it’s not easy to go play anybody in the (Class AA) away, so we’re ecstatic that we got that win and locked up home field.”
There is still work to do for the Plainsmen who will host Colonie 7 p.m. Friday night at Brent T. Steuerwald Stadium.
“Last year we didn’t get to experience that we had to go to Shaker and unfortunately we lost that game,” Weyrauch said. “Post-season is a whole different animal.
“We have to come at it with an aggressive mindset and we have to try to start fast. We’re not a first half team, but in order to be successful in the post-season we have to change that.”