Southeastern scores in all facets to beat Northwestern

Southeastern scores TDs by pass, rush, INT and blocked punt in win.

Southeastern's Preston Snodgrass breaks up a pass intended for Northwestern's Zach Uselton during Friday's game. More photos at SpringfieldNewsSun.com/sports. Contributed photo by Randy Hilt

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By Brian Plasters, Staff Writer 12:00 AM Saturday, August 27, 2011

SPRINGFIELD — After one quarter, the Southeastern High School football team had 7 yards of offense.

Good thing, then, for the Trojans that a game is four quarters, not one. Southeastern scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, then twice more in the second half to beat Northwestern 26-0 in the season opener on Friday at Northwestern.

Southeastern quarterback Luke Pavlatos started the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Duncan Mercer with 5:01 left in the second quarter.

An interception by linebacker Josh Black set up a 1-yard run from Caleb Diamond on the next drive. Within a three-minute span, the Trojans seized the momentum and secured a 12-0 lead.

Once the Trojans had the momentum, they weren’t letting it get away.

“Our kids thrive on confidence,” Trojans head coach Greg Bonifay said. “This senior class was my first group of freshmen. I told them when I got here we were going to do great things. That’s been our goal.”

Northwestern (0-1) was able to move the ball at times, and the Warriors outgained the Trojans in total yardage (157 to 138). Zach Uselton had a 58-yard would-be score called back on a holding penalty. Two drives stalled inside Southeastern’s 20-yard line.

“We had too many mistakes, and too many penalties,” Warriors head coach Brian Stevens said. “We had problems finishing inside the red zone. We you get in there you have to do it even better. We didn’t do that.”

The Trojans (0-1) capitalized on those mistakes and added to the lead on a Bryant Banion 25-yard interception return for a score in the third quarter. Jordan Timmons scored on a blocked punt.

The shutout was quite a turnaround for the Trojans defense after allowing 297 points last season.

“We’ve stepped up and been a physical team. They’re finally getting it,” Bonifay said.

Pavlatos finished with 74 passing yards, and Mercer led the team with 40 receiving yards.

There were five interceptions in the game, and Uselton had two of them.

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