September 29, 2000

MAL football quiz

By Dave Feltner
Sports Editor

Midland Athletic League football quiz time.

Which team rates second in the league in total offense and total defense? Is it unbeaten Carey? How about Mohawk? Maybe Calvert, you say?

Nope. That honor goes to Seneca East. And to those in the know, it probably doesn't come as a big surprise.

After opening the season with impressive wins over Colonel Crawford (29-7) and Plymouth (40-0), the Tigers lost starting fullback/linebacker Matt Berger to injury. Three losses to three tough teams followed.

The Tigers battled 1999 regional finalist Monroeville until dropping a 15-7 decision in the final minutes. Next came a 28-0 loss to Carey and then a five-turnover blunder in a 24-9 loss to St. Joe.

Needless to say, the Tigers will be hungry for a win when they travel to Frost-Kalnow Stadium Saturday night to take on 3-2 Calvert.

"We've lost three tough games to three tough teams," Seneca East coach Frank Lamoreaux said. "But we're tired of losing to tough teams. We want to beat a tough team."

No time would better than the present for the Tigers. In Calvert, the Tigers face a team that has won 18 consecutive Midland Athletic League games and two straight league championship.

The thunder Calvert brought to the table the past two seasons has been tempered this year, but the Senecas are still finding ways to win games. Usually by way of their defense.

Calvert games have gone scoreless into halftime the past two weeks. The defense has held on long enough for the offense to break a few big plays and the Senecas have two straight wins.

"You get so wrapped up and so concerned about kids doing what they should be doing and executing on offense and defense and special teams," Calvert coach Toby Hammond said. "And we haven't quite gotten there yet, but we've been fortunate enough to win the last two games.

"So, it's like we've been saying since game one," he said. "Eventually, we're going to put it together and be a good team."

Signs of that happening have been slowly surfacing.

Sophomore quarterback Marc Baugher and junior fullback Dan Snyder are starting to create the big plays Hammond expected of them.

In the team's last two wins, Baugher has scoring runs of 77, 78 and 50 yards, while Snyder has scored on runs of 54 and 36 yards.

"They really try to keep you off balance with a multitude of formations," Lamoreaux said of the Senecas. "They have nice balance on offense and their skill people are good. "(In order to defend them) you have to have speed on the defensive side of the ball. And we're not big, but we have quickness. You can't put all your eggs in one basket against these guys. That just won't work."

Seneca East's Erik Bame is the centerpiece of the Tigers' No. 2-ranked offense. Bame has rushed for 435 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Fullback Justin Ruffing has gained 366 yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per rush.

Quarterback Derek Niedermier has completed 17-of-49 passes for 299 yards. His top target has been Ruffing with four catches. Jake Ash and Nate Miller have three grabs apiece.

"The thing with Seneca East this year is that they're not as big as they have been, but they're a lot quicker, especially on defense," Hammond said. "And the other thing that sticks out is Bame and Ruffing. They're two different backs. Ruffing is a big, tough, physical runner in the middle and Bame is fast and quick."

Snyder has gained 358 yards to lead all Calvert ground-gainers. Baugher has 195 yards and has thrown for 342 more on 32-of-79 passing.

Snyder leads the team with six receptions.