COAL TOWNSHIP - For Tucker Yost, the 2013 season was one to forget.
His junior campaign began with him as the starting quarterback, but by the end of the season, he lost his job as signal-caller and was used solely as a punter.
The 2014 season started much better for Yost. Back at quarterback, Yost scored the lone touchdown of Shamokin's 7-0 win over Line Mountain at Kemp Memorial Stadium, and gave the Indians their first win since 2012.
"We hadn't won since my sophomore year," Yost said. "We knew we needed a win. We didn't care if it was a 3-0, 6-0 score, as long as we got the 'W.'"
Yost first started working toward getting ready in the offseason, deciding not to play basketball, and focusing on working out and bulking up more. He came back this season at 6-foot-3 at 215 pounds.
Both teams had problems running in the first quarter, but in the second quarter Yost first ran for three yards to get a first down, then broke free on the next play, rushing for 56 yards into the endzone.
Yost was able to make the play based on what he read from the Eagles' defense.
"I saw the backers crashing hard on (running back) Johnny (Demsko)," Yost said. "I told him I was going to pull it on the next play. I broke through the gap, and ran from there."
New Shamokin coach Pat DiRienzo has set up the offense this season to allow Yost to make more decisions, and said Yost "took what the defense gave him."
By the end of the game, Yost had 155 yards of rushing, including runs of 11 and 12 yards along with his 56-yard score.
Yost's big frame is an aberration on the Indians' roster, and one that came in handy Friday night.
While some of the smaller running backs had problems getting around the bigger Eagles' defense, Yost was able to use his frame to break tackles and gain more yards.
But the game against Line Mountain was only the first for Yost and Shamokin. The senior quarterback hopes that getting the first win in a long time will carry through the season.
"It was huge," Yost said. "Getting a win with this new rivalry. We knew we needed to win this one and start 1-0, at home and on this turf. Now we have to take it to Central Mountain."