ES South runs past Pleasant Valley
EAST STROUDSBURG — Football weather was back Friday when the Cavaliers took the field at a cool 60 degrees.
Coming off a blowout loss in Week 5, East Stroudsbrug South was looking to change the script this week. When the final buzzer went off, the Cavaliers were victorious in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference shootout over Pleasant Valley, 41-25.
The game got underway as the Cavaliers kicked off to a beat up Pleasant Valley football team. The Bears lost their starting quarterback last week in a tough 41-39 loss and were in need for a big win. However, they gained an early spark when Nasai Moon took the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, giving Pleasant Valley its first and last lead of their game at 6-0.
The Cavaliers respond quickly though, taking only three minutes to drive down the field and take the lead, 7-6. Sean Soloman took six out of seven snaps and ran for 55 yards on the drive, punching in the touchdown.
Following a fumbled punt snap and turnover on downs for the Bears, East Stroudsburg South used its run game to drive down the field and score its second touchdown. Now trailing 14-6, the Bears needed a spark.
Starting in enemy territory, quarterback Aidan McHugh threw a perfect pass in the corner of the end zone for Pleasant Valley’s second touchdown of the game. But for the second time, Pleasant Valley did not convert on the two point conversion, and still trailed 14-12.
The Cavaliers’ ground attack again proved their dominance in the hurry-up and scored with 5.8 seconds left in the half, which gave them a 21-12 lead at intermission.
“The run game was a huge success tonight,” said Cavalier head coach Ed Christian. “We have a solid passing game, but it wasn’t working tonight. It didn’t matter though, the run game was dominant.
The Cavaliers then matched the Bears’ opening kickoff return with one of their own to start the third quarter and give South a 28-12 lead. Sean Soloman went 90 yards and was just warming up, in what turned out to be an explosive second half for the senior running back.
Just when it looked as if the Cavaliers were pulling away, Pleasant Valley responded with a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aidan McHugh. But with 11:34 left in the game, Solomon sprinted 72 yards to the house, which put him over the 200-yard mark for the game, and gave South a 35-18 advantage.
“He’s a special kid, he’s smart, he’s a heck of athlete,” said Ed Christian of Solomon.
Nasai Moon later added a one-yard plunge which made the tally 35-25 in favor of the Cavaliers. However, South’s Donte Garcia next caught a lob pass over the middle that put the game away.
RIDIN’ SOLO ... Sean Soloman did a lot of the work by himself Friday night with over 300 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.
BACK BACK BACK IT UP ... Pleasant Valley’s backup quarterback Aidan McHugh went 24-39 with 205 yards and two touchdowns.
