GREENCASTLE — This time, Greencastle-Antrim did not let the game slip away in the second half.
This time, the Blue Devils outscored Juniata 19-7 in the second half and captured a 40-21 victory in a non-league Homecoming game at Kaley Field on Friday night.
“We’ve been there before (ahead in the first half), but this time we finished,” G-A coach Devin McCauley said. “Our Achilles heel has ben the second half of games, but I was proud of the kids’ effort tonight. We challenged them to play tough in the second half and they did.”
Sean Marshall
After a scoreless first quarter, the second quarter became a highlight reel for Greencastle receiver Carter McCauley. He caught a 29-yard pass from Sean Marshall on fade route for the first score.
On the ensuing kickoff, G-A (2-6) recovered a fumble, so they dialed up the same play. And it worked the same, too, with McCauley catching Marshall’s pass for a 24-yard score.
Juniata (5-3) mounted a comeback, tying the game before halftime. Then McCauley (7 catches, 104 yards), latched onto his third scoring grab from Marshall to make it 21-14 at the half.
“They had no answer for Carter,” coach McCauley said. “They had one guy on him and he never got any help from the safety. Marshall split reps last week with Lane Barry at quarterback and Barry had a good game, so he started tonight. But as soon as we put Marshall in, he threw for touchdowns on his first two throws.”
Greencastle had taken a 28-14 lead, then sealed the win with a 15-play, 95-yard drive, culminating with Noah Shifflett’s second touchdown run.
“They had punted to our 5 and that drive took up most of the third quarter,” Devin McCauley said. “That’s what we needed the last few games — we wore them out.”
Blake Reuter (13 carries, 163 yards) finished it off for the Blue Devils with an 81-yard scoring run.
McCauley said, “Our backs were running extremely hard and it’s a tribute to our line that we could get those yards on the ground. It was nice to win on Homecoming and nice to have something go our way.”
NOTES: The Blue Devils host Boiling Springs next Friday
Greencastle-Antrim 40, Juniata 21
Juniata 0 14 0 7 — 21
Greencastle 0 21 13 6 — 40
Second Quarter
GA — Carter McCauley 29 pass from Sean Marshall (kick good)
GA — McCauley 24 pass from Marshall (kick failed)
Jun — 18-yard pass (kick good)
Jun — 5-yard run (kick good)
GA — McCauley 11 pass from Marshall (2-point conversion good)
Third Quarter
GA — Noah Shifflett 4 run (kick good)
GA — Shifflett 3 run (2-point conversion failed)
Fourth Quarter
GA — Blake Reuter 81 run (kick failed)
Jun — 62-yard pass (kick good)
Greencastle Individual Statistics
Rushing — Reuter 13-163, Lars Galinanes 9-46, Marshall 7-44, Shifflett 7-21, Asher Whitson 4-19, Mason Gelsinger 1-3.
Passing — Marshall 8-12-1-131, Lane Barry 2-5-1-(-3).
Receiving — McCauley 7-104, Shifflett 1-27, Reuter 2-(-3).