Blue Jays shake things up, succeed despite loss
SOUTH CENTRE TWP. — Much like solving a giant puzzle, Central Columbia coach EJ Smith is attempting to put the right players in the right spot for the Blue Jays to succeed.
The picture seemingly got clearer Friday with the Blue Jays scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of a 35-21 loss to Montoursville.
At the center — or rather behind center — of the puzzle was a switch at quarterback. After starting Logan Welkom the first three weeks, Smith rolled with Greyson Shaud against the Warriors. The playbook seemingly opened up as Shaud had a team-high 24 carries while attempting 27 passes.
"It just felt like it needed to happen. We battled with that decision all summer and thought it was time for a change," Smith said. "I think it was the right switch with Logan playing great on both sides of the ball and coming away with that touchdown catch."
Welkom was on the receiving end of Central's final score. With Shaud on the run — a scene for much of the night — he hit a diving Welkom in the front of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.
Prior to that, though, it was Eli Book who was on the receiving end of Shaud's two touchdowns. The first was a 35-yard post route that Shaud let rip from the pocket. Two Montoursville defenders collided in the secondary.
"We went spread and took what they gave us. We let our playmakers make plays and they stepped up and made those plays," Smith said. "Greyson did a great job and I thought our line blocked well."
The two found each other nearly three minutes later to close the deficit in half, 28-14. Book had no Warriors nearby this time on a go route, cashing in from 45 yards out.
Book, along with Nate Smith, had a team-high four catches and 94 yards.
Shaud, meanwhile finished with 171 yards on 14 of 27 passing. He added another 47 yards rushing, both impressive given the starting center went down on the first drive and he had to corral a number of wild snaps.
"Having him back there at quarterback gives us the element of the run. Greyson is more of a back and can throw the ball," Smith said. "He made some great reads and great throws — he's a playmaker and he made some great plays. We need to allow him to make some plays and I think we saw the start of that tonight."
The Warriors, though, never let the Jays get closer than two touchdowns thanks in large to Marco Pulizzi reeling in a 35-yard touchdown reception for their last score. Pulizzi added an over-the-shoulder snag on a go route, shaking a Central defender for a 66-yard touchdown in the third quarter to help him finish with a game-high 129 yards.
Montoursville, though, asked for much more out of its running game, and it delivered. The Warriors' first score took up 10 plays and 72 yards — 48 on the ground — with quarterback Bryce Eberhart finishing it off with a dive.
Precisely two minutes later, Matthew Conklin found some wide-open space for a 35-yard score to give Montoursville a 14-0 lead headed into the half. He posted a game-high 118 yards rushing on 20 carries.
It also got a 14-yard touchdown run from Nate Fisher early in the fourth quarter for its fourth unanswered touchdown of the night.
"I'm not exactly sure what happened in the second quarter. I think it's more of a confidence thing as we're going through growing pains," Smith said. "But I saw some leadership and some playmakers tonight and though we're still figuring out who we are, the kids kept fighting and that's what I'm super proud about.
"I'm hoping that it carries over into next week and we play that way for all four quarters because the kids roared back tonight and gave us a chance."
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