Tucker Fortney rushed for 221 yards and also pulled in a 53 yard reception that set up their final score as the Skyline Hawks breezed to a 45-21 victory over the Gobblers in Broadway.
Fortney, starting in place of the injured Quentin Diggs, rushed 7 times for 29 yards on Skyline's opening possession, including a 5 yard run to put the Hawks up 7-0 with 6:17 left in the 1st quarter.
On the first play of their next possession, Kyle McHugh took an option pitch from Ryan Scott and raced 74 yards for a touchdown, giving the Hawks a 14-0 lead with 4:36 left in the first quarter.
The Hawks would get the ball right back, because on the Gobblers first play, Matt Rutherford made the first of two acrobatic interceptions, setting Skyline up at their own 32 yard line.
Four plays later, Scott connected with Luis Garcia on a 40 yard touchdown pass to put the Hawks up 20-0 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
After another fruitless Broadway possession, the Hawks again marched down the field on the strength of three Fortney rushes totaling 47 yards, and then two keepers by Scott, the 2nd of which was a nine yard touchdown run, putting Skyline up 26-0 with 9:38 left in the 2nd quarter. Broadway not only could not stop the Hawks, but they had yet to record a first down.
Gobbler quarterback Jesse Layne did get a first down on the ensuing Broadway possession, scrambling for 15 yards. However, the next play was the second of Rutherford's diving interceptions.
Broadway got the ball back on the next play as Davis Peltonen intercepted Ryan Scott's pass, giving the Gobblers the ball at their own 49. Layne had one long scramble on the possession, but it ended with the ball turning over on downs.
The Hawks got a 14 yard run from Fortney to start the possession, but after a catch by Aaron Tasker, the ball came loose and Yee Ung of the Gobblers recovered.
Broadway got into a rhythm in their next possession, as Layne had six completions in six attempts, the last one being a seven yard pass to Davis Peltonen for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 26-7.
On the first play of the next series for the Hawks, Scott started to scramble, but just before he crossed the line of scrimmage, he released a nice touch pass to Trenton King who had drifted behind his defender. King made the catch and took it 65 yards for a touchdown. This put Skyline up 32-7 with 1:29 left in the 2nd quarter.
Broadway did not give up, though. Layne completed five passes in a row to get the ball down to the Skyline nine yard line, before Nick Jordan recorded his 2nd sack of the night, forcing Layne to spike the ball, since Broadway was out of timeouts. Layne then ran it in from fifteen yards out with 17 seconds left in the half, to cut the lead to 32-14.
Skyline started off the 3rd quarter by running Fortney four straight times, picking up 20 yards. Then Scott hit Garcia with a 46 yard pass to set up first and goal from the six for the Hawks. The drive stalled however after an incomplete pass, a short run and a sack led to a FG attempt that failed.
After forcing a Gobbler punt, Skyline had another one-play drive, as Fortney broke free for a 73 yard touchdown run, and the Hawks were up 39-14 with 5:17 left in the third quarter.
Broadway was marching down the field before a fumble recovery by Caleb Reedy ended their drive.
After a Skyline three-and-out, Broadway again marched down the field, and had 1st and goal from the 7. Layne carried it down to the two on first down, but 2 incomplete passes and a false start, left the Gobblers with a 4th and goal back at the 7 yard line. Layne's 4th down pass was caught by Peltonen, however Kyle McHugh was there to bring him down at the four, turning the ball over on downs.
Fortney got the call again on the next drive, rushing for 36 yards on 3 carries, and then catching a 53 yard pass from Scott to set the Hawks up with first and goal from the ten yard line. Scott then hit Trenton King for a six yard touchdown to put Skyline up 45-14 with 6:26 left in the game.
Broadway was able to put up one more score, using rushes from Layne and and running back Brandon Cruz to march down the field, with Cruz running it in from six yards out to cut the score to 45-21 with 2:08 remaining.
Ryan Scott threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns and also had a rushing touchdown for the Hawks. Seth Gillespy had two sacks for Skyline.
Fortney, starting in place of the injured Quentin Diggs, rushed 7 times for 29 yards on Skyline's opening possession, including a 5 yard run to put the Hawks up 7-0 with 6:17 left in the 1st quarter.
On the first play of their next possession, Kyle McHugh took an option pitch from Ryan Scott and raced 74 yards for a touchdown, giving the Hawks a 14-0 lead with 4:36 left in the first quarter.
The Hawks would get the ball right back, because on the Gobblers first play, Matt Rutherford made the first of two acrobatic interceptions, setting Skyline up at their own 32 yard line.
Four plays later, Scott connected with Luis Garcia on a 40 yard touchdown pass to put the Hawks up 20-0 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
After another fruitless Broadway possession, the Hawks again marched down the field on the strength of three Fortney rushes totaling 47 yards, and then two keepers by Scott, the 2nd of which was a nine yard touchdown run, putting Skyline up 26-0 with 9:38 left in the 2nd quarter. Broadway not only could not stop the Hawks, but they had yet to record a first down.
Gobbler quarterback Jesse Layne did get a first down on the ensuing Broadway possession, scrambling for 15 yards. However, the next play was the second of Rutherford's diving interceptions.
Broadway got the ball back on the next play as Davis Peltonen intercepted Ryan Scott's pass, giving the Gobblers the ball at their own 49. Layne had one long scramble on the possession, but it ended with the ball turning over on downs.
The Hawks got a 14 yard run from Fortney to start the possession, but after a catch by Aaron Tasker, the ball came loose and Yee Ung of the Gobblers recovered.
Broadway got into a rhythm in their next possession, as Layne had six completions in six attempts, the last one being a seven yard pass to Davis Peltonen for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 26-7.
On the first play of the next series for the Hawks, Scott started to scramble, but just before he crossed the line of scrimmage, he released a nice touch pass to Trenton King who had drifted behind his defender. King made the catch and took it 65 yards for a touchdown. This put Skyline up 32-7 with 1:29 left in the 2nd quarter.
Broadway did not give up, though. Layne completed five passes in a row to get the ball down to the Skyline nine yard line, before Nick Jordan recorded his 2nd sack of the night, forcing Layne to spike the ball, since Broadway was out of timeouts. Layne then ran it in from fifteen yards out with 17 seconds left in the half, to cut the lead to 32-14.
Skyline started off the 3rd quarter by running Fortney four straight times, picking up 20 yards. Then Scott hit Garcia with a 46 yard pass to set up first and goal from the six for the Hawks. The drive stalled however after an incomplete pass, a short run and a sack led to a FG attempt that failed.
After forcing a Gobbler punt, Skyline had another one-play drive, as Fortney broke free for a 73 yard touchdown run, and the Hawks were up 39-14 with 5:17 left in the third quarter.
Broadway was marching down the field before a fumble recovery by Caleb Reedy ended their drive.
After a Skyline three-and-out, Broadway again marched down the field, and had 1st and goal from the 7. Layne carried it down to the two on first down, but 2 incomplete passes and a false start, left the Gobblers with a 4th and goal back at the 7 yard line. Layne's 4th down pass was caught by Peltonen, however Kyle McHugh was there to bring him down at the four, turning the ball over on downs.
Fortney got the call again on the next drive, rushing for 36 yards on 3 carries, and then catching a 53 yard pass from Scott to set the Hawks up with first and goal from the ten yard line. Scott then hit Trenton King for a six yard touchdown to put Skyline up 45-14 with 6:26 left in the game.
Broadway was able to put up one more score, using rushes from Layne and and running back Brandon Cruz to march down the field, with Cruz running it in from six yards out to cut the score to 45-21 with 2:08 remaining.
Ryan Scott threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns and also had a rushing touchdown for the Hawks. Seth Gillespy had two sacks for Skyline.
