GREENCASTLE — The Greencastle-Antrim football team took advantage of some mistakes by Waynesboro in the first half, then closed out a win in the season opener Friday night with a huge special teams play.

Trailing 28-0 at the half, the Indians got it going in the second half, scoring one touchdown and threatening again. But a sack on third down by Loki Huffman forced a field goal try. G-A’s Wyatt Hull blocked the kick and Ethan South picked up the loose ball and ran 82 yards for a clinching touchdown in the Blue Devils’ 35-13 victory at Kaley Field.

Spencer Long

“We played a great first half, but came out a little flat in the second half,” Greencastle coach Jason Thurston said. “But that field goal block swung the momentum back our way again.”

Blue Devil halfback Spencer Long had a big game. He busted an off-tackle play for 65 yards and the first touchdown, and scored the final TD of the first half on a 70-yard pass from Gavin Logsdon.

Thurston said, “The place just erupted by his first run. He ran a 12 yards and out play, and then just turned up the sideline on that pass play.”

Also in the first half, the Indians gave up the football on two fumbles, and the Blue Devils made them pay. After Long’s first score, G-A recovered a fumble at the Waynesboro 40 and two plays later, fullback Landon Kagarise ran 27 yards on a trap play. After another lost fumble by ‘Boro, Logsdon hit Hull for a 20-yard scoring pass.

“We are happy, but we have work to do,” Thurston said. “We were a little sloppy in the third quarter. We knew Waynesboro would regroup at halftime and they did. Their defense got us on some three-and-outs.”

Indian QB Nick Carbaugh ran 11 yards for a touchdown and threw to Nathan Baker for a 25-yar scoring play.

Braden Eckert led Greencastle’s defense with 9 total tackles.

“We had only one turnover and our tackling was very good,” Thurston said. “We are happy; it was a good win. And we appreciate the great support from the community — it was packed tonight.”

Greencastle 35, Waynesboro 13
Waynesboro          0     0     7     6     —     13
Greencastle           7    21     7    0     —     35
First Quarter
GA — Spencer Long 65 run (Blake Witmer kick), 1:35
Second Quarter
GA — Landon Kagarise 27 wun (Witmer kick), 11:46
GA — Wyatt Hull 20 pass from Gavin Logsdon (Witmer kick), 8:51
GA — Long 70 pass from Logsdon (Witmer kick), 2:40
Third Quarter
Way — Nick Carbaugh 11 run (Carbaugh kick), 6:32
GA — Ethan South 84 blocked FG return (Witmer kick), 2:17
Fourth Quarter
Way — Nathan Baker 5 pass from Carbaugh (kick failed), 10:31
G-A Individual Statistics
Rushing — Long 11-99, Kagarise 11-42, Luke Hull 4-27, Jeremiah Amstutz 2-13, South 2-10, Logsdon 2-6, Dominic Angelini 1-6, Robert Sanders 1-3, Dane Medina 1-3.
Passing — Logsdon 5-for-9, 109 yards, 0 interceptions.
Receiving — Long 1-70, W.Hull 1-20, Iverson Stoner 1-7, Sam Petruska 1-6, L.Hull 1-6.
Tackles — Braden Eckert 9, W.Hull 4, Huffman 4, South 4.