Rabuck twins too much for Colts

WILLIAMSTOWN – The last time they played, it was a stunner. A down-to-the-wire, heart-breaking loss for Marian.

The Colts couldn’t believe what happened in the 2016 District 11 championship game as they let a fourth-quarter lead slip away and lost to Williams Valley.

There was no such drama on Friday night.

The time the Vikings didn’t need a late comeback, instead they seized control early and breezed to a 56-21 victory in the semifinal round of the District 11 Class A playoffs.

The Vikings have a potent offense, a strong defense, and enough weapons to make them a potential state championship team when the season concludes come mid-December in Hershey.

Marian looked defenseless from the get-go as Williams Valley pumped up the volume, scoring 24 points first-quarter points on its way to a mercy-rule enabling 36-0 halftime lead.

Much heralded Williams Valley running back Dylan Rabuck and his twin brother Devon Rabuck were the story line.

Dylan piled on another huge night of yardage with 286 yards on just 15 carries, hitting the end zone four times, including one with just 7:10 to play. He raced 19, 31, 71 and 80 yards for his scores. Devon hauled in five passes for 205 yards — and like his brother scored four times.

Devon scored on his team’s first offensive possession of the night with a 20-yard pass from quarterback Levi Engle. He also snared TD passes of 35, 46 and 53 yards.

“They’re an extremely talented team that can score from anywhere on the field,” said first-year Marian coach Pat Morgans. “We didn’t do a very good job of defending that’s for sure.”

The first four Viking touchdowns came after turnovers and all four were just one-play drives.

It was much the same in the second quarter when the Vikings recovered a fumble and Dylan Rabuck pranced 31 yards into the end zone and before the half concluded with a five-play, 77-yard WV touchdown march that was capped by a 46-yard Engle to Devon Rabuck pass.

“In a big game like this you just don’t do those things (turnovers) and expect to give yourself a chance to win,” said Morgans.

Marian did have a sounding board albeit late. The Colts’ first touchdown came near the close of the third quarter when quarterback Keith McCall hit Seth Paluck with a five-yard pass. Early in the fourth, John Patton blocked a punt to set the tables for senior Ryan Cappel to dash seven yards for the second Marian score. And senior Max Nolter scored on an eight yard run in the final quarter to cap Marian’s scoring. Lucca Stroia booted the conversions after all three scores.

Before that final Nolter score, the Vikings sent their first string back into the game and Dylan Rabuck bolted 45 yards for a TD.

“All year long (our starters) played only a half,” said Williams Valley coach Tim Savage. “But (Marian) has varsity players in there teeing off against a bunch of kids who can’t tie their shoes.”

Morgans replied, “I played my seniors at the end. We only had three seniors starting.

“I just hope our younger kids learned from this. We started a sophomore linebacker (Nick Falls) for the first time. All these underclassmen got all the experience. There’s a lot to look forward to.”

ROLLING AND ROLLING … Vikings are extremely impressive. They’re fundamentally sound, their very quick and rally to the ball.

BY THE NUMBES … Dylan Rabuck now has 2,435 yards rushing and 39 touchdowns on the season ­ — and has not played a full game all season.

STANDOUTS … Zack Falls, Matt Doherty, Nick Falls, Jacob McLaughlin, Matt Doherty, Patton, Nolter and McCall played well for Marian which finished 4-7.

WHEN DOES IT START … When coach Morgans was asked about the start of next season, he said “Tomorrow!”

UP NEXT ... Williams Valley will play Tri-Valley, which squeezed by upstart Nativity 17-7, for the title next Friday.