CATAWISSA RR - It hasn't taken long for Billy Barnes to feel at home at Southern Columbia. The surprising thing is that it's not even wrestling season yet.
Barnes, a state runnerup wrestler at Williamson, transferred to Southern this summer, and went out for football, which he had not played since eighth grade since Williamson didn't offer it. Barnes has become a dynamic player at linebacker, and on Friday, he did something Southern coach Jim Roth believes is a first at Southern.
Barnes intercepted two passes and returned both for touchdowns, as the Tigers used defense and special teams to defeat Central Mountain, 55-13, at Tiger Stadium.
Blake Marks, who severely injured his knee last week against Lewisburg, suited up and actually carried the ball twice in an effort to score a touchdown before sitting out the rest of the season. He lost a fumble on his first carry but later scored on a two-yard run.
The Tigers (9-0) also played without fullback Matt Jeremiah, who sat out to get ready for next week's game against Selinsgrove.
Roth said he couldn't remember one player scoring two defensive touchdowns in the same game before.
Barnes said he channels his wrestling aggressiveness to play football.
"A lot of it is physical and mental, just like wrestling," he said. "Giving 110 percent."
Barnes' first interception return was a mere eight-yarder, and he danced into the end zone when Central Mountain quarterback Bryce Bitner attempted to throw from punt formation on his own one-yard line. The Wildcats (1-8), to their credit and with nothing to lose, attempted several fourth-down conversions. Unfortunately, making them was a different story.
Barnes' first score made it 21-0 early in the second quarter. Southern took just three offensive plays to score its first touchdown, with a 35-yard pass from Nick Becker to Mike Klebon setting up a 13-yard touchdown run by Brad Noll.
Then Steve Toczylousky had a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown, his second of the season.
Marks' touchdown came on a two-yard run after a 29-yard pass from Becker to Klebon, and that same combination connected for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 4:45 left in the first half.
Central Mountain, on its next possession, picked up a first down but on third-and-nine Bitner threw to Zach Frankhouser.
"It looked like he made the catch but then the ball popped out and it landed right in my arms," said Barnes, who then took off on a long and winding 40-yard return, following his blockers all the way.
"It looks like he could be a running back for us," Roth said. Junior backup fullback Jared Torres, playing for Jeremiah, had a 38-yard run to the one, from where he scored, in the third quarter.
Central Mountain junior fullback Hunter Weaver carried the ball 36 times for 147 yards and finally scored on a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and J.J. Harris got behind the reserve secondary for a 50-yard touchdown reception for the Wildcats.
Billy Marzeski ran 45 yards for Southern's last touchdown.
Game Summary
Central Mountain 00 00 00 13 - 13
Southern 14 28 6 7 - 55
SC - Brad Noll, 13 run (Tyler Keiser kick)
SC - Steve Toczylousky, 75 punt return (Keiser kick)
SC - Billy Barnes, 8 interception return (Keiser kick)
SC - Blake Marks, 2 run (Keiser kick)
SC - Mike Klebon, 20 pass from Nick Becker (Keiser kick)
SC - Barnes, 40 interception return (Keiser kick)
SC - Jared Torres, 1 run (kick failed)
CM - Hunter Weaver, 21 run (Kathryn Myers kick)
SC - Bill Marzeski, 45 run (Dale Houser kick)
CM - J.J. Harris, 50 pass from Bryce Bitner (kick blocked)
CM SC
First downs 12 13
Rushes-Yards 55-175 23-188
Passes 2-8-2 5-11-0
Passing Yards 56 120
Total Yards 231 308
Fumbles-Lost 3-3 1-0
Penalties 2-15 2-15
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Southern Columbia - Marzeski 3-59, 1 TD; Torres 4-55, 1 TD; Hunter Thomas 1-40, Nik Fetterman 3-17, Noll 2-16, 1 TD; Marks 2-1, 1 TD; team 1-0, Justin Derk 2-(-1); Becker 3-(-4)/ Central Mountain - Weaver 36-147, 1 TD; Jared Neff 14-26, Zach Mansfield 1-9, Bitner 1-0, Harris 3-(-7).
PASSING: Southern Columbia - Becker 5-11-0, 120 yds., 1 TD. Central Mountain - Bitner 2-8-2, 56 yds., 1 TD.
RECEIVING: Southern Columbia - Klebon 3-84, 1 TD; Noll 1-22, Toczyllousky 1-14. Central Mountain - Player Harris 2-56, TD.
INTERCEPTIONS: Southern Columbia - Barnes 2-48, 2 TDs.