Milestone within reach: Red Raiders roll past Perry, 34-6, to earn program蘑菇视频 499th win on Hall of Fame night
Uniontown蘑菇视频 football team was revved up and ready to go when it took the field at Bill Power Stadium on Friday.
Following an impactful pregame talk from members of Uniontown蘑菇视频 2001 conference championship football team, which was part of the Uniontown Area High School Academics, Arts and Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 introduced to the crowd before kickoff, the Red Raiders took the field and rolled to a 34-6 victory over Perry Traditional Academy.
Notorious Grooms had a hand in three of Uniontown蘑菇视频 touchdowns as the Red Raiders scored on the ground, through the air, defensively and on special teams in improving to 1-1 and giving the program its 499th all-time win.
鈥淲e scored in all facets of the game and that蘑菇视频 ideally what you always want to do,鈥� Red Raiders head coach Ketih Jeffries said.
Jeffries was part of the coaching staff of the 2001 squad which put together a 9-0 regular season.
鈥淚 brought the guys back from the 2001 team that were there for the ceremony into the locker room and they talked to the kids,鈥� Jeffries said. 鈥淐oach (John) Fortugna and Coach (Tim) Tracy talked to them a little bit and then I finished up with a pregame speech. I think it all set a nice tone. Our kids came out pumped up.
鈥淭he kids were pretty much locked in. It was a great atmosphere.鈥�
The Red Raiders, coming off a season-opening loss at Laurel Highlands, built a 20-0 halftime lead then scored twice in a span of 25 seconds early in the third quarter to go up 34-0 and cruised home from there.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 a big victory,鈥� Jeffries said. 鈥淣o. 499 for the program. We鈥檒l be trying to get No. 500 Friday afternoon at Carrick.鈥�
Uniontown forced six turnovers against the Commodores who were playing their first game of the season.
Grooms picked off a pair of passes, returning one for a touchdown, and also ran for a TD and threw for a score in a stellar all-around performance.
鈥淭ori did it all tonight,鈥� Jeffries said.
Grooms gave the Red Raiders the lead for good by scoring on a 5-yard jet sweep with David Ranitu, who was four for five on extra points, booting the PAT for a 7-0 lead at the 3:46 mark of the first quarter.
The drive was set up by the first of two fumble recoveries by Wyatt Dean who gathered in one on a high snap during a Perry punting attempt and the other on a Ranitu kickoff that deflected off a Commodore player.
鈥淲yatt Dean played an outstanding game on defense tonight,鈥� Jeffries said.
Ranitu gave Uniontown a 14-0 lead with a 9-yard touchdown run with 6:45 left in the second quarter.
The Red Raiders then came up with the first of three consecutive spectacular touchdowns.
Uniontown ran another jet sweep with Grooms late in the half but he pulled up and lofted a 69-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Calvin Wiinfrey III that gave the hosts a 20-0 halftime advantage.
The Red Raiders took complete control of the game early in the second half.
Uniontown蘑菇视频 defense forced a Perry punt and Gary Smitley came free off the right side and blocked it. Nathan Serock picked up the bouncing ball at the 9 yard line and ran it in for the score with 9:48 left in the third quarter.
On the next play from scrimmage Grooms stepped in front of a Perry pass along the sideline at the Commodores 48 and, using two spinning moves in crossing the field, raced into the right side of the end zone for the touchdown and a 34-0 lead.
Perry averted the shutout when D鈥橝very Latimer scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:51 remaining in the game against the Red Raiders reserves.
鈥淲e were able to spread the ball around some,鈥� Jeffries said in discussing Uniontown蘑菇视频 offense. 鈥淎ll three of our backs did well I thought. Mike Thomas had a couple strong runs at fullback, Dave Ranitu also had some good runs at fullback. Jamarie Walker had a few nice runs at taliback. And Tori took in a jet sweep for a touchdown.鈥�
Thomas also forced a fumble for the Red Raiders. Uniontown also got fumble recoveries from Nate Hice and Conner Hebda and an interception from freshman David Settles.
鈥淭he linebackers and secondary played very well,鈥� Jeffries said. 鈥淲e had great coverage downfield. Jamare, Tori, Calvin and then also David Settles did a good job filling in for Kelan Milsom who was out because his grandmother passed away. The kids wanted to come together for Kelan because they knew he was dealing with that sadly.
鈥淲e did make some mistakes tonight but we were able to overcome them to get the win.鈥�
Jeffries felt the pep talk and pregame hoopla helped set his team up for a strong performance.
鈥淲e had the Hall of Fame members there, and the student body, the crowd was outstanding and just very receptive of what was going on,鈥� Jeffries said. 鈥淚 think that carried over into the game. That makes things a lot easier for us.鈥�
Uniontown蘑菇视频 game at Carrick on Friday will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Cupples Stadium.