Carbondale at Old Forge

Recap

CARBONDALE AREA 20, OLD FORGE 14

Old Forge made it interesting in the end but there was too much of Francisco Roman in the first half to overcome. 

The Carbondale junior running back scored three touchdowns, added a two-point conversion and picked off two passes all in the first half to lead the Chargers to a 20-14 victory, ruining the Blue Devils 31st Homecoming at Veterans Memorial Stadium. 

After Old Forge (2-8) lost 27 yards on their first three plays, Roman returned the ensuing punt to the Blue Devils’ 30. Four plays later, Roman sprinted to the end zone from 15 yards out for a 6-0 lead. 

Old Forge moved into Carbondale territory in just two plays on its next series but Roman picked off quarterback Robby Solfanelli at his own 35 and returned it to the Blue Devils 17. Three plays later Roman scored from five yards out, added the two point run and led 14-0 with 4:15 left in the second quarter. 

Carbondale (6-4) forced another short series by the Blue Devils and proceeded to march 70 yards on 13 plays, capped by Roman’s third score to give the Chargers a seemingly commanding lead with 6:14 left before intermission. 

Roman’s second INT came on the next series but then Old Forge defense held for the first time and the score remained the same at halftime. 

The teams traded possessions in the second half, and after Jahquest Kirby sacked Solfanelli for a 16 yard loss on fourth down, the Chargers looked to put the game away with a first down at the Old Forge 22. 

But a Will Wozniak tackle for loss in the first down play seemed to ignite the Blue Devils. The Old Forge defense would hold on downs and five plays later Chris Rasmus put the home team in the board with a 35-yard catch and run with 3:27 left in the third quarter. Josh Cistola’s extra point cut the deficit to 20-7. 

The Blue Devils held again and a bad snap on the ensuing Chargers punt gave Old Forge the ball at the Carbondale 1. Two plays later, Rasmus powered his way in on the sneak to cut the CA lead to 20-14 with 55 seconds left in the third. 

Carbondale chewed more than five minutes off the clock on its next drive and after eight runs, the Chargers elected to go deep. But Ayden Aversa intercepted Cole Becchetti’s pass at the 1 to give the Blue Devils a chance. 

Rasmus would convert two third downs with two receptions for 56 yards and a fourth down with a three yard rush to give the Blue Devils first down at the Carbondale 22. 

But the Blue Devils stalled and the Chargers defense rose to the occasion as a fourth down pass was out of the reach of Rasmus in the endzone. 

Roman finished with 114 yards rushing on 26 carries to lead the Carbondale offense. 

Solfanelli went 14-for-24 for 192 yards. Rasmus accounted for most of their yards with 148 on eight catches. 

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

CAR – Francisco Roman 15-yd run (Kick failed) – Carbondale 6-0

CAR – Roman 5-yd run (Roman run) – Carbondale 14-0

2ND QUARTER

CAR – Roman 3-yd run (Kick failed) -Carbondale 20-0

3RD QUARTER

OF – Chris Rasmus 35-yd pass from Robby Solfanelli (Josh Cistola kick) – Carbondale 20-7

OF – Rasmus 1-yd run (Cistola kick) – Carbondale 20-14

4TH QUARTER

None