Vandals smack Miners to go to 5-0

By Rich Bauer

Vandalia scored early and often in smacking Gillespie to remain atop the South Central Conference with an unblemished record.

Vandals quarterback Qwentyn Stombaugh hooked up with Kohnor Depew on a 21-yard scoring play 3½ minutes into the game and Cole Durbin’s extra-point kick put Vandalia up 7-0.

They went up 21-0 by the end of the first quarter, with Dillon Hinton scoring on 1-yard and 2-yard runs.

Depew hauled in a Stombaugh pass with 9:34 left in the half for a 47-yard scoring play, and Stombaugh’s 9-yard run near the end of the half gave the Vandals a 35-0 lead.

Just 25 seconds into the third quarter, Stombaugh connected with Depew on a 42-yard pass play, and a 42-0 lead for the Vandals set a running clock for the rest of the game.

Vandalia’s final score game in the final quarter, with Paddy McDowell, a Vandals running back/receiver/linebacker/third-string quarterback, scoring on a 13-yard run.

“I thought we handled our business,” Vandals coach Jason Clay said.

“We got off to a good start,” he said. “Defensively, we stuffed them and were able to get on the board.”

The Vandals had a scoring play by Depew called back on a penalty, “but we were able to overcome that and get in the end zone.

“I think we had just the one turnover tonight, but we were able to get another two scores before the half.

“So, yeah, it was like you expected to go,” Clay said, summing up the 1-3 Miners.

“I was proud of the kids’ focus and the way we came out and played,” he said.

The Vandals had a pretty clean game with just the one turnover and only a couple of penalties.

“There were a couple of other little things that maybe we could have been called for, so, we’ll just keep looking at it, but that was the things we were looking at and wanting to overcome,” Clay said.

“I thought our defense played really well, and that was big for us,” he said. “They barely gave up a first down in the first half.

“And, if you can do that, obviously, with our firepower, I feel like we’re going to be in a good spot,” Clay said.

“I feel like our defense is really gelling. I think we’ve landed in a good spot.

“And, then, as far as our starters, I think that he (defensive coach Mark Rinehart) is getting a good rotation, a good feel for rotating guys and playing the hot hand, and mixing and matching,” he said.

“So, I feel like our defense is coming together, and you know, if you’re going to have a good team and make a championship run, you’ve got to have good defense,” Clay said.

“And I feel like ours is starting to emerge as a pretty solid group,” he said.

While the Vandals’ offense is piling up the points and the defense is holding back opponents, their linemen don’t often get the attention they deserve.

“I’m probably hard as hard on that group as anybody, especially the offensive line,” Clay said.

“We met and watched film this week on Thursday, and really tried to pick things apart, and the thing I like about those guys is I think they listen to me and trust me, and they try to figure out how we can get better.

“I don’t think there are a lot of ego, just guys who are willing to work and try to help us get better,” he said.

“I think they know that if we’re succeeding, a big part of that is because we are able to run the ball and that their pass protection pays off in a strong passing game.

“I think we’ve pass protected the last two weeks really well, and that was the plan a couple of weeks ago. And, then, we’re going to look to see about the running game, if there are a couple of things we can clean up a little bit,” Clay said.

The Vandals travel to Greenville this Friday night, with hopes of retaining the Pink Bowl trophy.