Rush hurt in Mapletown’s loss to Fort Cherry
Fort Cherry’s Ryhan Culberson runs past a Mapletown defender during Friday night’s game.
Fort Cherry’s Ryhan Culberson gets pushed out of bounds by a Mapletown defender Friday night after making a first-half catch.
Fort Cherry’s Matthew Staley carries the ball against Mapletown Friday night.
Mapletown’s Tanner Griffin attempts to evade the tackles of Fort Cherry’s Logan Higham and Devon Brown Friday night.
Fort Cherry’s Ryhan Culberson carries the ball Friday night against Mapletown.
McDONALD – In what was supposed to be a showcase between one of the WPIAL’s most productive running backs against a Class A power never materialized.
A lower leg injury to Mapletown’s Dylan Rush put a damper on Friday night’s game at Fort Cherry’s Jim Garry Stadium, leaving the already undermanned Maples in a huge hole they could never climb out of. The Rangers took the measure of the visitors, 48-8, a score that no doubt delighted the Homecoming crowd.
Rush was injured on his first carry of the game when he was tackled for a five-yard loss by Rangers linebacker Zach Vincenti.
The junior running back was averaging 272 yards per game for the Maples. His evening ended with three carries for minus-1 yard. Without him, the Maples offense was stuck in neutral against the bigger and faster Rangers.
Mapletown coach George Messich confirmed that Rush tweaked his ankle during practice earlier this week.
“He thought he could go, so we gave him a chance to get some plays in,” Messich said. “It was swollen so we knew he could not really go too much.”
Messich believes Rush should be ready to play next week when the Maples host Jeannette.
Fort Cherry coach Jim Shiel said his team was looking forward to the challenge of containing Rush.
“It’s definitely disappointing,” Shiel said. “He’s a great player and we would have liked to had the chance to be the first team to slow him down.”
The evening’s proceedings started off well enough for the Maples (4-4, 3-3) when Rangers quarterback Ryhan Culberson fumbled an exchange on the game’s first play. Brandon Donley pounced on the loose ball at the Ranger 35-yard line, setting up the Maples in prime field position.
But that momentum was quickly short-circuited after Tanner Griffin’s fourth down pass fell incomplete. Rush was injured three plays earlier.
Fort Cherry (7-0, 5-0) then went to work. Two plays following the change of possession, Brady Whalen took a shotgun snap and whipped a swing pass to Culberson, who took it the distance for a 47 yard score. Matt Staley’s extra-point was true, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead with 8:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Staley capped the next Rangers drive, a 49 yard march in four plays; with a one yard plunge. The drive was highlighted by a 47 yard Culberson to Nick Rogers connection that brought the ball to the Maples 2. Staley’s kick made it 14-0 mid first quarter.
“We’re a team that does not really take a lot of time to score,” Shiel said. “We use big plays to get us going. Our team speed really helps us in that regard.”
Mapletown attempted to get back in the game by using inside handoffs to reserve running backs Gavin Uphold and T.J. Hennessey. The Maples moved to near midfield on their next drive, but Uphold fumbled and Whalen recovered at the Maples 45. Whalen ended the ensuing drive with a one-yard run. Staley came on to boot the extra-point, making the score 21-0 Rangers late in the first quarter.
Culberson’s two yard scoring toss to Rogers ballooned the Rangers lead to 28-0 early in the second quarter. The senior quarterback also showed some running ability on the drive with an impressive 12-yard scramble to the Mapletown 16 to keep the drive alive.
Culberson showed off his throwing arm again when he found massive tight end Devon Brown in the back of the end zone from nine yards out midway through the second quarter, increasing the Rangers advantage to 35-0.
Brown also showed his prowess on defense as he continuously crashed into the Maples backfield from his stand-up end position. The senior recorded two sacks and numerous tackles for loss.
Mapletown took the second half kickoff and was able to move to the Fort Cherry 35 but lost possession when Donley fumbled the center exchange. The Rangers recovered and made it 42-0 five plays later when Culberson scored on a keeper from 19 yards out.
Freshman Zach Greene provided a highlight for the Maples in the fourth quarter when he burst up the middle of the Rangers defense and galloped 39 yards for a score. Greene’s two point conversion from the ground made it 42-8.
“He’s a puppy,” Messich said in reference to Greene. “He’ll get his opportunities down the line for us.”
Nick Candelore finished the scoring when he scampered into the end zone from 41 yards out.
With Homecoming behind them, Shiel said he looks forward to the challenge of facing Carmichaels on the road next week for the Tri-County South title.
“That’s a fine football team, probably the best we’ve seen so for this year,” he added.