Aug 29, 2014 4 min read

MT. PLEASANT – Almost every time Mt. Pleasant senior running back Trevor Salopek touched the football Friday night, he brought the Vikings fans to their feet and left McGuffey gasping for air as he ran into the end zone.

The senior scored four first-half touchdowns in his first game at running back, but his time on the field was cut short by cramps.

It did not matter.

Despite allowing 26 second-half points, Mt. Pleasant stopped McGuffey’s last drive to hold on for a 45-39 win behind Salopek’s four touchdowns in the season opener at Vikings Stadium.

Trailing by 13 points with under four minutes to play, McGuffey senior quarterback Nate Whipkey engineered a four-play, 61-yard touchdown drive finished by senior James Duchi’s three-yard touchdown run. Duchi finished with 23 carries for 125 yards.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Highlanders completed an onside kick, which they recovered on Mt. Pleasant’s 35-yard line. Whipkey completed a 14-yard pass, but on fourth-and-two, Duchi was stuffed for a three-yard loss to seal a Vikings win.

“I had a play that would have worked, but I didn’t call it,” McGuffey head coach Ed Dalton. “I tried going for the first down instead of the win. We beat their corner earlier on an out route and would have had it again, but we didn’t go for it.”

Despite a second half where Whipkey and Duchi changed the momentum, McGuffey could not overcome Salopek’s first-half performance.

After taking an early 6-0 lead, McGuffey (0-1, 0-1) took a gamble that backfired. The Highlanders completed an onside kick that was recovered by Mt. Pleasant (1-0, 1-0). The play gave the Vikings the football on their own 49, and Salopek capitalized five plays later, when he took a handoff from senior quarterback Nathan Pieszak, and followed his blockers down the right sideline for a 12-yard touchdown.

While McGuffey’s offense ran with ease on its opening drive, they failed to cross midfield in its next six possessions. On the other hand, the Vikings’ wing-t attack was efficient.

“You can’t come out and get beat on a jet sweep,” Dalton said. “Not when you know that’s their offense. We knew (Salopek) was fast, but there’s no excuse for that to happen.”

On Mt. Pleasant’s third possession, Salopek lined up at split end and motioned right where he took a hand-off from Pieszak and followed his blockers up the right sideline. He sprinted past junior Nick Haynes and went untouched for a 72-yard touchdown run and a 14-6 Vikings lead.

Salopek, who played wide receiver last year. finished with 137 yards on seven carries and three rushing touchdowns.

“I didn’t expect to have that much success so early, but I knew there would be a chance to make big plays with my speed,” Salopek said. “I’m still learning how to get lower.”

After its initial possession, McGuffey could not run the football consistently. Senior lineman Liam McElhoes went down with an ankle injury on the Highlanders’ second offensive drive. Depth at the position was something Dalton was concerned about during preseason camp and Friday’s performance did not alleviate those concerns.

As McGuffey sputtered, Mt. Pleasant’s offense flourished. Junior fullback Jake Adamrovich gained 40 yards on four carries on the Vikings’ fifth drive and Salopek capped it with a three-yard touchdown where he went untouched on a sweep to the outside for a 21-0 lead.

“This was (Salopek’s) first time playing running back and he had an outstanding game,” Mt. Pleasant head coach Bo Ruffner said. “We knew his speed would translate to the position.”

The Highlanders’ offense looked unstoppable on the game’s opening possession with the combination Whipkey and senior running back James Duchi. The duo led McGuffey on a seven-play, 76-yard drive, which Whipkey finished when scrambling into the end zone for a five-yard score. Mt. Pleasant answered with a 25-yard field goal after a poor kick-off made them drive just 31 yards to get into field goal range.s

After that, it was all Salopek and he was not limited to just offense. Trailing by 15 points, McGuffey turned to the passing game with under two minutes until halftime. Whipkey had senior Adam Narigon open on a crossing route, but he overthrew his target and the ball dropped into the hands of Salopek, who returned the interception for a 52-yard touchdown and 31-6 lead.

“Special teams made a big difference and that interception return really hurt our chances,” Dalton said. “It’s a shame because (Whipkey) had an outstanding game and showed such poise.”