Derry improves to 5-0 for 1st time in 33 years
There is no secret what Derry wants to do on offense against teams — run the ball.
And there is a reason why Derry (5-0, 4-0) is undefeated and atop of the WPIAL 3A Interstate Conference. It is finding ways to win close games.
Derry used a three-touchdown, 204-yard performance from senior running back Tyler Balega in a hard-fought 35-23 homecoming victory against South Park (1-3, 1-2) on Friday at Trojan Stadium.
The Trojans are 5-0 for the first time since 1983 when they won their first seven games.
But Derry needed two late defensive stands to stay perfect. Noah Wiencek and Dom Deluca led a defense that ended up sacking South Park quarterback Jordan Kmonk five times, include twice when the Eagles were in Trojan territory in the fourth quarter.
“We gave up way too many points, but we got the win,” Derry coach Tim Sweeney said. “We got the stops when we needed.”
Balega, who was a game-time decision because of an unknown injury, carried the ball 30 times. He scored on a 7-yard run to give Derry an early lead.
Derry rushed for 336 yards and ended up with 401 yards of total offense.
“Teams know what we want to do. Run,” Sweeney said. “But we're doing a good job mixing things up.”
South Park, behind the passing of Kmonk, tied the score at 7-7 when he connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Devin Turner.
Kmonk completed 20 of 33 passes for 255 yards, which is second all-time in South Park history. Turner caught nine passes (second all-time in school history) for 155 yards (fourth all-time).
“There is a reason Derry is 5-0,” South Park coach Marty Rieck said. “But I'm proud how we never quit.”
Derry owned the second quarter and took a 21-7 lead at halftime on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Polinsky to Josh Bauer and a 2-yard run by Balega.
South Park got a safety in the third quarter, followed by a goal-line stand and then drove 96 yards to trim the deficit to 21-17 early in the fourth quarter.
But Derry answered with Balega resting on the bench and got a 26-yard touchdown run by Owen Whitacre for a 28-17 lead with 8:15 left.
South Park wouldn't go away. Kmonk and Turner connected on a 36-yard pass to set up Isaiah Mack's 4-yard score, his second of the game, to make it 28-23 with 8:02 left. He had a 68-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
Derry then made two defense stops to end South Park drives, and Balega added his third score, a 7-yard run, to put the game away.
“We made a few defensive adjustments and were able to put pressure on the quarterback,” Wiencek said. “It feels great that we're 5-0. We have to keep it going. When we fire on all cylinders, we're tough to beat.”
