P-G uses big plays to hand Arlington first loss

ARLINGTON – Pandora-Gilboa coach Matt Hershey wanted to find a play that would get his team going.Rockets receiver Chase Meyer had just the thing in mind.With Pandora-Gilboa and Arlington tied at 6 early in the third quarter, the Rockets defense forced a Red Devil punt.Arlington punter Calvin Willow unleashed a 59-yard kick that was downed at the P-G 10.On first down, the Rockets' Landen Moore was stuffed for a 3-yard loss.Now, on second and 13, Hershey called a play that was – in a way – suggested by his top receiver."(I was) noticing how far (the defender) was lining up inside," said Meyer. "I told our coach about it, and then, when we got to it, I knew I had to make the chance count."Taking the snap from a shotgun formation, Cory Gerten lofted a deep pass down the far sideline for Meyer.Meyer caught it, fought off a tackle, and raced 93 yards for the Rockets score.It was the biggest play in P-G's 24-14 win over the Red Devils Friday."(Arlington was) tough against our run tonight, so, we did a little motion, kind of got a matchup that we liked," Hershey said. "Cory threw a great ball, Chase made a great run after it."Pandora-Gilboa made it 14-6 after Gerten's 2-point conversion pass to Moore. The Rockets added to the lead when defensive back Jace Fenbert stepped in front of a Trenton Heacock pass for an interception.A few plays (and Arlington penalties) after that, Gerten connected with Meyer again, this time for a 16-yard touchdownP-G led 21-6 halfway through the third quarter.Meyer caught nine passes for 201 yards. Gerten was also tremendous, completing 17 of 29 throws for 326 yards. He also added a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the first half."Gerten is such a good quarterback; he made plays," Arlington coach Nick Inbody said. "He ran the ball tonight, too, and the Meyer kid is a good receiver and we didn't do a good job containing him."But Arlington fought back.It leaned on Ayden Cavinee to do so.Cavinee was already in the middle of a tremendous game. He'd run for a 62-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and was over 100 rushing yards at halftime.In the second half, the senior back was again an important weapon.This time, as a receiver.With about four minutes left in the third, Heacock hit Cavinee with a screen pass, and Cavinee went 75-yards to the end zone.Heacock connected with 6-foot-10 tight end Calvin Willow on a conversion pass, and P-G's lead was cut to 21-14.Things looked even better for the Red Devils after the Rockets' Layton Cannode missed a 33-yard field goal on the ensuing possession.Arlington – with the ball in the fourth quarter –got a 25-yard catch and run from Cavinee, and pushed the ball inside the P-G 35.Cavinee finished with six receptions for 135 yards."Ayden did a good job making some plays," Inbody said. "We got behind, so we had to throw the ball more than we wanted, and our guys made plays."But the Red Devils were foiled by the Rockets defense and their own penalties. Arlington was called for three on the fourth quarter drive, which eventually stalled.Arlington was called for 12 penalties in the game, for 130 yards. P-G had seven penalties itself, for 75 yards."We just hurt ourselves with penalties all night," Inbody said. "We'd make plays, and get penalties that would take them away, or get ourselves way backed up."That's just really hard to dig out of a hole against a good team like that."P-G put the game away when Moore had a 49-yard run down to the Arlington 3, and then Cannode iced the game with a 22-yard field goal with 1:42 left.Cannode had already missed an extra point and a field goal, but Hershey had faith in him, and the kicker delivered."Typically, he's a kicker-only for us," Hershey said. "But through injuries we had this week, he's playing linebacker tonight for us. (He had) big tackles for us."We have a lot of faith in him," he said of Cannode. "He's proven that he's got the leg, we've just got to get the consistency down, and just a huge kick for us."Fenbert put an exclamation point on things when he ended Arlington's final offensive drive with his second pick of the game.P-G has had a series of injuries recently, and Hershey said players like Fenber, Moore and Cannode are stepping up."Jace Fenbert is not a starter on our team," Hershey said. "So, for him to come in and play the way he did, again, it just shows the type of young man that he is. When his number's called, he's ready to make plays for us."P-G improved to 3-2, 2-1 in the BVC. The Rockets will host Elmwood next week."We've played a lot of good teams so far, and to come into Arlington and get a win on their home field with our injury situation right now, our kids should be super proud of themselves," Hershey said. "We're proud of them for all their heart and effort tonight, and it was a great team win."Arlington lost for the first time this season, falling to 4-1, 2-1 in the BVC. It will look to bounce back next week against unbeaten Liberty-Benton."Gotta learn from this experience, and move on," Inbody said. "It doesn't get any easier from here."