Spartans control clock, Austin Prep

READING – St. Mary?s offense played keep-away in the first half and the undefeated Spartans wore out Austin Prep in their Catholic Central Large opener at Father Seymour Field Saturday, 28-14.The Spartans (3-0) had the ball for all but 5:03 of the first half and scored on each of their three possessions, opening a 22-8 lead at the break.Make no mistake — this was all about the offensive line. That group — anchored by ends in name only Brent Lozzi (6-3, 270) and Luc Zikianda (6-5, 230) and including tackles Rafael Perez and Liam Reddy, guards Fred Blaise and Jack Leonard and center Brendan Donahue — pushed the Cougars (2-1) up and down the field.Running backs sophomore Abraham Toe (17-150) and senior Connor Sakowich (18-150) scored two TDs apiece as the Spartans rolled up 327 yards of total offense.?This was just a complete team win. We knew it would be very tough and physical here. It always is but we responded,” said coach Matt Durgin. “The offensive line worked hard all week and met the challenge and the backs ran hard.”After the defense turned back AP?s game-opening possession at the St. Mary?s 28 on downs, the offense executed an epic 16-play, 72-yard drive that spilled into the second period and melted 10:09 off the game clock.The only play of more than eight yards came on 4th-and-7 at the AP 35 when quarterback Antonio Felix completed his only pass attempt of the game to Joe Farna for 20 yards to the Cougars? 15. Toe wedged in from two yards and Sakowich added the conversion for an 8-0 lead with 9:42 left in the half.The Spartans? second possession kicked off with runs of 22 yards by Toe and 33 by Sakowich and ended when Sakowich bounced in from three yards to make it 14-0.However, on the first play after AP?s Matt Morgan returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards, Cougars quarterback Connor Duffy countered with a 47-yard scoring run on which he broke several tackles near the sideline. Matt Liberacki?s rush made it 14-8 with 3:21 left in the half.No matter. The Spartans managed the clock effectively during a 62-yard scoring drive that Sakowich finished off with a three-yard TD 9.7 seconds before the half. Toe?s conversion rush sent St. Mary?s off with a 22-8 lead at the break.The scintillating sophomore dashed 52 yards on the second play of the second half to stretch the lead to 28-8, giving the Spartans complete control.AP?s response was a 52-yard drive to the St. Mary?s eight that died on downs and wiped nearly seven minutes off the clock.?Our defense made the big stops when they had to — it was all 11 guys out there,” Durgin said.The Cougars pulled to within 28-14 on Liberacki?s four-yard run with 5:44 to play. However, Toe covered the ensuing squib kick at the St. Mary?s 35 and Austin never saw the ball again.?This game tells me our guys have big hearts because Austin Prep never quits. That?s the way we need to play all the time,” Durgin said.