Resilient Mohawks Edge Hawkeyes

By DOUG PAPE [email protected]
Saturday, October 27, 2001 Page: 4B

WILKES-BARRE – The Meyers football team has been in a headlock with
adversity much of this season.

First, it was injuries to key players that sent the Mohawks reeling. Then
it was a bone-crushing 66-0 loss to Lakeland last week, in which they gave up
some 500 yards of offense.
So when backyard rival Hanover Area visited Wilkes-Barre Memorial Stadium
Friday night, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Meyers collapsed.

Instead, it popped adversity in the face.

In what coach Mike Namey called “a true humanistic story,” the Mohawks
showed their grit and held on for a 7-5 victory. A late fumble recovery by Ian
Hughes deep in Meyers territory sealed the victory.

“This is just a tremendous feat and this is really just a true emotional
gut check and the kids came through tonight,” Namey said.

Meyers (6-3 overall) is the lone undefeated team in the Northeast
Pennsylvania Football Conference Division 3 South at 4-0. The Mohawks also
jumped into fourth place in the District 2 Class 2A standings. Next week they
face GAR in what will be more than just a battle for Wilkes-Barre.

“They knew if we came out with a victory we’d have a share of the (league)
championship and that hasn’t happened in 17 years,” Namey said. “We got a
big task ahead of us and it’s a backyard rivalry game. We got to come out on
top to take the whole thing.”

Hanover (6-3, 3-1) dropped to sixth in the district standings and still has
a mathematical chance to make the playoffs. The Hawkeyes got on the board
first as Tony Shipula booted a 28-yard field goal in the closing seconds of
the first quarter.

The Mohawks answered on their next possession when Jaron George hit Eric
Stempien on a 3-yard scoring strike. The play capped an eight-play, 63-yard
drive. Carlo Mercadante had some key runs on the drive and finished with 130
yards on 18 carries.

Meyers punter Jared Carlo, who suffered a knee injury earlier in the
season, owned the third quarter. He connected on a 63-yard punt that pinned
the Hawks on their 1-yard line. Later, a short punt pinned them on the 2.

The Hawkeyes, who were plagued with dropped passes, drove to the Mohawk

Dave Shipula tackled Mercadante in the end zone for a safety to tighten the
score to 7-5 with 5:36 left.

On the Hawkeyes’ next possession, a sack by Meyers’ Keith Gilmore forced a
punt. Hanover then held Meyers on downs and got the ball back with 1:05 left.

The Hawks drove to the Meyers 21 on two pass plays from Jeff Shook to Joe
Cefalo and Ryan Boyle. Hanover coach Dave Fisher wanted one more play to get
closer for a field goal attempt, but his team coughed up the ball.

“I got to give credit to our kids,” Fisher said. “They played hard and
we had an opportunity there and it’s just unfortunate they got the turnover.”

CUTLINE: Meyers quarterback Jaron George is stopped by Hanover Area’s Rich
Bernhard on bottom and J.P. Krupa. The Mohawks held on for a 7-5 victory.
(TIMES LEADER PHOTO/S.JOHN WILKIN)