Decatur Thrashes Easton, 49-6, to Improve to 3-1

Decatur Thrashes Easton, 49-6, to Improve to 3-1
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BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s varsity football team stayed on a roll this week, thrashing visiting Easton, 49-6, on a rare Monday game to improve to 3-1 on the young season.

The game was originally scheduled for last Friday at Easton, but the game was postponed because the Warriors’ home field was unplayable because of the rain. The game was reset for Monday at Easton, but field conditions had not improved and the decision was made to move the game to Decatur at the last minute. In the end, it wouldn’t have mattered where or when the game was played as the Seahawks dismantled the visiting Warriors, 49-6, after taking a 42-0 lead into halftime.

Decatur scored a touchdown on its first possession to take an early 7-0 lead. After an Easton punt, the Seahawks scored again on a 36-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tim Donnelly to Paul Stortini to extend the lead to 14-0 with 5:55 remaining in the first quarter. Easton then made an effort to get back in the game with a long drive of its own with a good mix of passes and runs to keep the chains moving.

The Easton drive reached the Decatur five yard line, setting up first-and-goal, but the Seahawk defense suddenly stiffened and ended it right there. Easton went for it on fourth and goal from the five but a pass in the end zone sailed just out of the reach of the receiver and the Warriors turned it over on downs.

From their own five-yard line, the Seahawks then went on a methodical drive of their own, capped off by a six-yard touchdown run by Delonte Tate to extend the lead to 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. Things didn’t get much better for Easton in the second quarter. On their very first play from scrimmage in the second quarter, Easton attempted a pass near the right sideline, but Decatur’s Danny Kominos intercepted the ball and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to put the Seahawks on top, 28-0, with 10:31 still to play in the second quarter.

The Seahawks were relentless and continued to put pressure on Easton. On the ensuing kick-off, Decatur squib-kicked the ball to the front lines of the return team and the Easton players bobbled the ball and Decatur’s Mike Meekins recovered what amounted to an onside kick near midfield. After a few running plays, Donnelly hit Andrew Brickey streaking down the left sideline for a 33-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 35-0 with just under nine minutes remaining in the first half.

Easton went three and out on its next possession and had to punt. Stortini received the ball and absorbed a big hit before returning it about 40 yards into Easton territory. With the 35-0 lead, Decatur Coach Bob Knox sent in many of the second-team offensive players on the next series including moving Brickey over to quarterback. However, the results weren’t much different.

The Decatur reserves moved the ball down the field to the Easton five-yard line. Decatur’s Kyle Lesley then took a hand-off from Brickey and punched it in from five yards out to extend the lead to 42-0 with still over three minutes left in the half. Decatur’s Josh Bock was perfect on all of his extra point attempts in the first half.

Easton made a great effort to get on the scoreboard with time running down in the first half, driving to the Seahawk 14-yard-line with 1:20 remaining. From there, Easton pulled out a half-back option with the running back throwing to a wide open receiver in the end zone, but the ball was just out of reach and the play failed, setting up a fourth and goal from the seven. On the next play, Decatur’s Danny Miller picked off the Easton pass and returned it 30 yards and from there, the Seahawks killed the clock.

Decatur added just one more score in the second half with mainly the second team on the field. Easton scored late to end the shutout, but the Seahawks cruised to the 49-6 win. Donnelly finished the game with 329 yards and four touchdowns. Stortini caught three touchdowns and totaled 227 yards receiving.

The win improved Decatur’s record to 3-1, its only loss coming to Indian River, 17-14, in the second game of the season. Through four games, the Seahawks have outscored their opponents by a combined 139-30. Next up is a tough Queen Anne’s team tonight during Homecoming for Decatur.