CATAWISSA R.R. - There were two big differences between Southern Columbia and Shamokin in the Tigers' 45-6 win over the Indians Friday at foggy, drenched Tiger Stadium.
The Tigers were able to throw effectively in the first half fog and Shamokin wasn't, and the Tigers' special teams had a good night, while the Indians' special teams had trouble handling the ball.
Shamokin (2-6) limited Southern to 77 yards rushing and just over three yards per carry in the first half, but quarterback Taylor Young completed 5 of 9 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. Four of Southern's five completions were for double-digit yards.
On the other side, Shamokin quarterback Tucker Yost struggled, going 5 for 13 for just 39 yards. He threw one interception, which Garrett Sosnoski returned 23 yards for a touchdown. Southern also had short-field touchdown drives of 34 and 28 yards, set up by good punt returns.
It added up to a 32-0 halftime lead for the Tigers (8-0) and comfort level when the game was held up for almost an hour when the lightning and a downpour came just as the teams were returning to the field for halftime. A lightning strike knocked out the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.
"They played tough run defense," Southern coach Jim Roth said. "We need to improve our running game but a lot of that had to do with their defensive effort. But I had it in my mind for us to try to throw the ball a little more tonight anyway.
(Injured halfback) Nate Hunter gave us a lot in terms of blocking and receiving as much as running, so we wanted to work some other people in.
"And our special teams did a good job tonight. We had three good punt returns. We didn't break any but when you punt the ball 30 yards and you return them 25, you're doing a good job."
Joe Kleman's 27-yard return set up Southern's first touchdown, which came on a 26-yard fade pass from Young to Bryce Parry on a third-and-14.
After another Shamokin punt, without a return, the Tigers drove from their 39 to the Indians' 21 as the fog got thicker. The drive stalled but Dylan Swank kicked a 38-yard field goal, which nobody in the stadium except the officials under the goalpost likely saw.
Then came the killer play, Sosnoski's interception return touchdown on Shamokin's first play of the next series, which made the score 18-0 late in the first quarter.
"Garrett's interception was the backbreaker," Roth said. "The way they were playing against the run, it could have been tough with the weather."
Young and his receivers struck through the fog again after Shamokin pinned the Tigers back to the 12. First, Young threw a 44-yard bomb to Kleman, who made a good catch through tough coverage by Shane Williams, to the 17. Young and Parry then connected on an 18-yard pass to the seven after a holding penalty, and Adam Feudale ran in from there.
A 25-yard punt return by Parry to Shamokin's 28 set up a three-play touchdown drive. Young complete a 19-yard swing pass to Blake Marks, and Matt Lupold scored from the two.
Marks scored on a one-yard run late in the third quarter to move the game into the mercy rule.
Shamokin finally got a drive going. Julian Deitrick scored on a four-yard run to finish a nine-play, 70-yard drive, and freshman Jacob Potter scored a late touchdown on an 18-yard run for Southern.