MECHANICSBURG – The Indians were all over Greeneview from the opening kickoff Friday night, racing away to a 40-7 victory in what served as the de facto OHC championship game.
“We’ve still got another week to go, but it definitely puts us in the driver’s seat for another OHC championship,” M’burg Coach Kurt Forrest said. “At least a share of it, for three years in a row, which is an amazing accomplishment for these kids.”
Kaleb Romero became the first player in Mechanicsburg history to pass for 1,000 yards in each of his four years with the program, and he got the squad going early.
On the first drive of the game, Romero ripped off a big run that got the Indians into the red zone. That was followed with a Dustin Knapp touchdown jaunt from 15 yards out.
M’burg stuffed the Rams for a three-and-out on Greeneview’s first drive, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Rams a first down and allowed them to drive down inside the 10-yard line.
But on third down, Alex Walton sniffed out a reverse and leveled the ball carrier and a fourth down fake went wanting as well.
It was more of the same all night for the Indians, with Romero going up the gut from a couple of yards out to make it 14-0 and the defense recovering a fumble on Greeneview’s next play.
Romero followed that with the run of the night. He capped off the Indians’ drive with a sweep right, throwing a stiff arm to shake a man, then running through a tackle and juking a man at the 5-yard line to score from 15 yards out.
“It’s gotten to the point where he’s coaching me about what I’m going to say to him,” Forrest laughed. “There was a pass tonight that he threw and before it had landed, he turned to me and said ‘You’re going to be mad at me for that one, aren’t you?’ It’s just the mental, physical, competitiveness – the total package. It’s all there.”
The Indians, wearing all black, were able to put the lights out on Greeneview (7-2, 5-1) with less than two minutes left in the first half. Romero connected with Alex Rhine for a 46-yard pass play and then with Drew Myers for a touchdown pass to make it 28-0 at the half.
After the intermission, M’burg scored on a 39-yard run from Knapp before ceding a long touchdown catch and run to Ethan Bradds. Two plays later, Romero extended the lead once more with a long run up the right side for the game’s final points.
The touchdown was Romero’s 70th of his career, setting a new school mark. For the game, he had 229 yards on 18 carries. Knapp added 103 yards on 15 touches.
The Indians (9-0, 6-0) travel to Southeastern to finish the regular season next Friday night.
