By Brandon Schuman and Eric Schlotzhauer –
Dallastown let Friday night’s football game slip through their hands, literally.
Proving turnovers can change the tempo of the game, the Wildcats erred six times Friday night in Millersville and the Comets took advantage of the mistakes by walloping Dallastown 23-0 in front of a raucous home crowd.
The Wildcats fumbled it four times and tossed two interceptions in the contest. Alex Quinn picked up three fumbles alone in the beating that was laid on the Wildcats. Penn Manor senior Michael Bucek returned the first turnover, a fumble for a touchdown.
With a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, Daulton Parmer intercepted a tipped pass which allowed for the second Comet touchdown.
“It’s the mistakes, period,” said Dallastown coach Kevin Myers said about his team’s struggles during an interview with Lancaster newspapers. “We’ve been saying for weeks now that we’re close, but we just have to finish. That’s what it comes down to.”
The first half was not the end of the Wildcat’s turnover nightmare. In the third quarter, quarterback Andrew Henry fumbled the Dallastown ball and threw away the potential to avoid the shutout.
The Comets later forced the Wildcats into a safety setting the score at 16-0 after a botched snap.
Penn Manor’s Brandon Stone put the “icing on the cake” running a 30-yard touchdown to seal the deal at 23-0.
“It’s difficult to shut anyone out at any level of football,” said Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy during an interview with Lancaster Newspapers. “There are so many things that happen in a game. Defensively, we’re very proud of our effort.”
WE WHOOPED EM GOOOOD