Neuqua Valley too much for Metea Valley

Updated: September 30, 2011 11:29PM

Neuqua Valley’s football team went with a tried and true old-school philosophy against district rival Metea Valley Friday.

The Wildcats used their running game and defense to deflate the Mustangs in a 52-6 win in Upstate Eight Valley play.

Junior Joey Rhattigan ran for 193 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries to lead the offense. Defensively, the Wildcats forced six turnovers and allowed only 136 yards of offense in a dominating performance.

“We played well, put the game away,” Neuqua coach Bryan Wells said. “Even after their touchdown to start the third quarter (an 81-yard strike from Peyton Mitchell to Cameron Wilcox, Metea’s lone completion of the night), we came right back and answered. That’s exactly what you want to do in a game like that.”

Neuqua (5-1 overall, 3-0 UEC Valley) led 24-0 at the half thanks to touchdown runs from Rhattigan and Danny Dudek and a 33-yard touchdown pass from Nate Boudreau to Shane Langton.

After Metea’s stunning touchdown pass on the second play of the third quarter, however, Neuqua went off. Rhattigan scored from 32 yards out three plays later. Two plays later, Joshua Prescher picked off Mitchell and returned it 45 yards for another score. Another interception, the first of two in the half from JD Blaydes, followed on the next play and then Dudek put the game away with a 20-yard score two plays after that. Suddenly it was 45-6 less than four minutes into the second half.

“In a big game, that can be a big difference in the game,” Rhattigan said. “To take advantage of errors and mistakes is huge. It’s huge even down the road if you can do that.”

All told, Neuqua ran for 292 yards on the night and didn’t even attempt a pass in the second half.

For Metea (3-3, 1-3), it was the third straight blowout loss suffered after the loss of quarterback Jarrett House to a knee injury. His replacement, Mitchell, completed only one of 17 pass attempts and threw three interceptions.

“I want to give them a little bit of credit, too,” Wells said. “Because when Jarrett House went out, their offense deflated. They’re trying everything they can. They’re a completely different team without him.”

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