PLATTSBURGH — It took the Plattsburgh North Stars five-and-half minutes to score more points (7) than they did the last time they faced the Vermont Ice Storm.
By the end of Saturday’s Empire Football League game, Plattsburgh had totaled 41 points and 461 yards of offense and avenged an early-season loss.
Harry Rascoe threw for three touchdowns and scored another on the ground as Plattsburgh won 41-21 at Melissa L. Penfield Park.
“They were talking a little bit, saying last time they beat us they should’ve beat us by 30 or 40, so it was good to come out and play a complete game,” Rascoe said.
After being held to 68 rushing yards in a 10-6 road loss to Vermont on July 7, the Stars’ offense was firing on all cylinders Saturday. Josh Nephew ran for two touchdowns and 105 yards to lead a ground game that totaled 207 yards. And Rascoe went 17-for-28 for 254 passing yards.
“Our offensive line, they played together,” Rascoe said. “We were all making line calls. We were just on the same page, so everything clicked.”
Plattsburgh (4-3, 3-3) drove 62 yards on its first possession, and Rascoe finished it off with a 1-yard scoring run. The Stars added three more touchdowns in the second quarter.
Nephew ran it in from the six early in the quarter, Kevin Gibson caught a 7-yard touchdown, and Jamil McCray snagged a 28-yard pass 46 seconds before the end of the half.
Nephew rushed for another score in the third quarter, and then Jordon Keleher made a nice grab as the Stars stretched their lead to 41-7.
Coach Scott Aguglia said the game was a continuation of the strong offensive play the Stars have showed lately.
“Everybody played well,” Aguglia said. “The offensive line did a great job opening holes, and Harry threw the ball well, had great control of the offense all night.”
Plattsburgh also played tough defense. The Ice Storm didn’t get a first down until their final drive of the first half, which ended with a touchdown to Corey Mathieu, and they finished the half with 32 yards of offense.
Vermont (2-4) scored twice in the fourth — on a 23-yard catch by Rob Joy and a quarterback sneak by Tim Kynoch.
Joy led Vermont with four catches for 41 yards, and Kynoch was 11-of-25 for 124 yards and an interception. Running back Jason Young was limited to 14 yards.
The Stars stopped a two-game slide and, with four games left, are hoping to close with a strong second half of the season.
“Playoffs is our main goal; we need to make it in,” Rascoe said. “And this is our first step to doing it. We got everyone to buy in (Saturday).”
—
Plattsburgh 41, Vermont 21
Vermont 0 7 14 0 — 21
Plattsburgh 7 21 13 0 — 41
First quarter
P- Rascoe 1 run (White kick), 5:29
Second quarter
P- Newphew 6 run (White kick), 0:39.
P- Gibson 7 pass from Rascoe (White kick), 7:59.
P- McCray 28 pass from Rascoe (White kick), 11:14.
V- Mathieu 8 pass from Kynoch (Praino kick), 11:51.
Third quarter
P- Nephew 5 run (White kick), 7:53.
P- Keleher 31 pass from Rascoe (run failed), 11:34.
Fourth quarter
V- Joy 23 pass from Kynoch (Praino kick), 0:07.
V- Kynoch 1 run (Praino kick), 3:35.
Individual statistics
Rushing
V- Young 6-14; Jones 2-9; Kynoch 1-1, TD; Roy 1-1; Williams 1-0. Totals: 11-25, TD.
P- Nephew 16-105, 2 TD; Rascoe 12-63, TD; Parks 4-26, McCray 1-13. Totals: 33-207, 3 TD.
Passing
V- Kynoch 11-25-1-124, 2 TD.
P- Rascoe 17-28-0-254, 3 TD.
Receiving
V- Joy 4-41, TD; Canada 2-31; Paul 2-16; Young 1-24; Mathieu 1-8, TD; Williams 1-4.
P- McCray 6-104, TD; Gibson 5-47, TD; Keleher 3-69, TD; Price 1-23; Nephew 1-7; Wood 1-4.
Interceptions
P- St. John.
Email Courtney Lewis at:
clewis@pressrepublican.com
