Published: September 05, 2009 01:29 am      

Forest Hills uses pressure defense to shut down visiting Johnstown

SIDMAN — Seven was a lucky number for Forest Hills’ Don Bailey.

Seven, as in the number of defensive players the veteran Rangers coach constantly sent to pressure elusive Johnstown quarterback John Siciliano in a 20-8 victory during Friday night’s LHAC opener at G.H. Miller Field.

Bailey hoped to take away the big play. He was counting on his defense’s experience to provide an edge against a rebuilt Trojans line with plenty of potential but not a lot of seasoning.

“We were bringing people from everywhere,” Bailey said. “We were bringing seven. We always kept four deep. We knew they had an outstanding quarterback.

“We knew he had great speed and he was able to throw the ball.

“He had speed on the perimeter and he can throw there. We knew we had to pressure him and try to get him before he got started and not let the receivers get too deep on us. Our game plan was we were going to rush seven people all night long.”

Forest Hills built a 20-0 advantage behind the rushing duo of Nick Dudukovich (22 carries, 134 yards, two touchdowns) and Jeff Meier (16-66, one touchdown) but Johnstown’s offense got on track in the fourth quarter and closed the gap on Quatrell Rose’s 24-yard dash and ensuing two-point conversion run.

“We played hard. That’s the bottom line,” said Johnstown coach Kevin Marabito, whose Trojans were trying to win the 600th game in the program’s history dating to 1898. “They took it to us up front. I give our kids a lot of credit. We could’ve packed it in and quit. We drove on down and scored. 

“I think we’re coming as a team,” he added. “It’s going to take a little growing pains but the kids believe in it and it’s still there. Hats off to Forest Hills.

“They took advantage where we were weak. But we’re going to bounce back.”

Forest Hills had 214 rushing yards and 19 first downs overall.

Johnstown’s Siciliano had a team-high 54 rushing yards, followed by LaQuinn Stephens-Howling (4-40) and Rose (1-24), who each gained their yards in the fourth quarter after the Trojans went to a no-huddle offense and churned out six of their

13 first downs.

“We thought we could tire them out a little bit,” Marabito said of the no-huddle look. “Our conditioning was there.”

Forest Hills capitalized on a Johnstown fumble recovered by Adam Wingard at the Trojans 29-yard line. Meier scored from 6 yards out and Pat Donoughe’s extra-point made it 7-0 with 3:12 showing in the first.

The Rangers had excellent field position after Siciliano had to punt from his own end zone late in the second quarter.

Dudukovich ran for 29 yards on four carries, the last one a 5-yard scoring run to make it 13-0 1:53 before the half.

Siciliano brought Johnstown right back in the closing minutes of the half, running for 24 and 17 yards, and then passing 16 yards to Jordan Jefferson.

Johnstown had first-and-goal from the 7, but Forest Hills’ John Levi Ohler intercepted a pass near the goal line with less than 20 seconds left.

“That was a big play,” Bailey said. “We used an old Tennessee defense on that play. Ohler is the nose guard. He made it look like he was rushing the passer. Two linebackers blitzed and he dropped off to the middle.”

Chris Moss’s interception set up Forest Hills’ last scoring drive early in the third quarter. Dudukovich broke a 25-yard run to make it 20-0.

“We wanted to run the football to keep them off the field and we were able to do that,” Bailey said.

“We didn’t get any big 40- or 50-yard runs, but we were getting the first downs when we needed them. We controlled the football most of the game.”

Johnstown marched 92 yards for a score. The Trojans actually gained 116 rushing yards during the drive because that total didn’t include a 14-yard sack and 10-yard penalty.

Rose took a Siciliano pitch on the right side, eluded tacklers and found the end zone.

After a roughing the kicker penalty on the missed extra-point attempt, Rose ran for the conversion.

“Quatrell made a great run,” Marabito said. “A lot of that was on him. We had a block on it but he made things happen.” 

“That’s what you’ve got to do. We’ve got some kids who want to step it up. If that’s the kid that gets the hot hand, we’re going to carry with him. He’s been banged up for a couple weeks. He had a great first scrimmage but sat out the whole second week.”

Bailey is glad he won’t see the Trojans again.

“I don’t want a rematch,” Bailey said.

“Holding them down once is hard enough.”