Published: October 05, 2008 12:13 am            

Greater Johnstown blanks Bishop Carroll

The flu almost kept Johnstown’s John Siciliano out of the lineup on Saturday night.

But once the junior quarterback took the field against Bishop Carroll, he appeared to be cured.

Siciliano’s scrambling keyed a 92-yard scoring drive and gave the Huskies fits throughout Johnstown’s 16-0 LHAC victory at Trojan Stadium.

“Their quarterback can run,” Bishop Carroll coach Craig Sponsky said. “We knew that coming in. It’s tough enough to defend everybody else.”

The Trojans offense did enough to win. Johnstown’s defense was superb.

On a night Johnstown’s undefeated 1958 WPIAL Class AA champion team was honored, the Trojans pitched a shutout.

The ’58 Trojans, many of whom attended Saturday, had six shutouts and allowed only 66 points while going 11-0.

“The defense is really playing well,” said Johnstown coach Kevin Marabito, whose team forced five turnovers and stopped the Huskies twice on fourth down. “We’re just doing things that are simple. The kids are flying to the football.”

Johnstown (4-2, 3-1 Section II) has allowed 24 points in the past four games while holding three of those opponents to less than a touchdown.

“We had opportunities,” said Sponsky, whose Huskies are 3-3, 1-3. “We didn’t take advantage of them. They’re a good football team. We put the ball on the ground and that makes it more difficult of a climb. I think our kids battled and competed until the end.”

Bishop Carroll advanced to the Trojans 29-yard line in 10 plays on the opening possession but Johnstown stopped the Huskies on a fourth-and-2.

Later, Bishop Carroll’s all-state punter, James McCombie, pinned Johnstown at its 8.

The Trojans moved 92 yards in 13 plays, using 5:32 of game clock on a drive capped by Quadir Christian’s 2-yard run at 6:53 of the second quarter.

“The 92-yard drive was a big plus for us,” Marabito said.

Siciliano had runs of 15, 1, 13 and 22 yards during the march.

“John is just an athlete,” Marabito said. “He was a little bit under the weather, fighting the flu bug a little bit. But he does make things happen with his feet.”

Jon Maurizio’s ensuing kick-off was fumbled away and the Trojans recovered at the Huskies 5. Bishop Carroll’s defense held Johnstown to a 21-yard Maurizio field goal that made it 9-0.

Will Claar recovered a fumble at the Bishop Carroll 42. Johnstown converted four plays later on Christian’s 17-yard run to make it 16-0 at 4:48 of the third.

Christian ran for 93 yards, and Siciliano had 82 net yards, a total hurt by minus-34 yards on losses. Bishop Carroll’s Brendan Julock had 106 yards on 16 carries.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.