Solanco remains unbeaten with win at Daniel Boone
By Matt Gaffney — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Friday night’s game between Solanco and Daniel Boone was a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions.
The Golden Mules brought their unblemished record to Brazinsky Field in Birdsboro against a Blazers team looking for its first league win.
Solanco remained undefeated and in first place in Section 3 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League with a 49-21 win over the Blazers. It’s off to the program’s first 8-0 start since 2015.
Solanco (4-0, 8-0) was led by their skilled senior quartet: Cole Harris, Josiah Forren, Brody Mellinger and Noah Baber.
Harris rumbled for 135 yards and a touchdown. Forren ran for 133 yards and a score and also threw for one. Mellinger chipped in 80 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Baber contributed a touchdown reception, seven PATS, and two interceptions on defense.
Solanco coach Tony Cox credits his team’s success not only to his playmakers on the field but the close-knit bond they have off of it.
“We have 24 seniors that do everything together,” said Cox. “It’s just a great group of kids and that’s why we have had such success this year because of the big bond between the seniors.”
The Blazers (0-4, 1-7) are at the other end of the spectrum as they build their program. Despite forcing five turnovers they struggled to capitalize on those opportunities and lost their fifth straight.
Blazers coach Rob Flowers may not see the wins piling up, but he sees effort and determination from his team.
“We have struggled this year to finish drives on both sides of the ball,” said Flowers. “At times, we don’t look like a 1-7 team but other times we do. The results may not show it, but our kids are giving effort and playing hard.
“It’s all you can ask for as a coach. I have nothing but love for these young men. We just have to keep playing.”
Flowers was quick to credit Solanco for its style of play.
“Solanco has a very good run game,” he said. “They run the option offense very well and are very physical. They are 8-0 for a reason.”
The Golden Mules wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Landon Steele blocked a Boone punt, scooped and scored to give the Golden Mules a 7-0 lead following Baber’s successful PAT just one minute into the game.
After forcing another Blazers punt, Solanco put together a tidy six-play, 65-yard drive that was set up by a 61-yard run Mellinger run. Harris banged it in from 2 yards out to increase the lead to 14-0.
The Blazers had no plans to roll over on their Homecoming and Hall of Fame induction night. They cut the lead to 14-7 when quarterback Dean Rotter scored from 16 yards out following a seven-play, 68-yard drive.
The score came after Rotter hit Max Heffner on the preceding play for a 35-yard pickup on fourth down to keep the drive alive.
While the touchdown gave the Blazers some life, Solanco tried to regain momentum and did so with a little trickery early in the second quarter. Facing fourth-and-12 deep in Blazers’ territory, the Golden Mules caught Boone off guard when Forren took a pitch from Mellinger and pulled up to throw a 14-yard strike to Baber for a score and a 21-7 lead.
Rotter got Boone right back in it one minute later with a 75-yard TD run but Solanco responded with a 35-yard Forren touchdown run and a Pick-Six by Carter Smith for a commanding 35-14 halftime lead.
The Golden Mules’ option rushing attack had the Blazers on their heels all night. Solanco continued to pound the rock with Harris in the second half as he gashed the middle of the Blazers’ defense time and time again.
Despite recovering five Solanco fumbles, the Blazers couldn’t mount the comeback.
Rotter finished with 116 yards rushing and two touchdowns while throwing for 195 and another touchdown on a 67-yard bomb to sophomore Chase Domenech.
Solanco will be gunning for a 9-0 start when Fleetwood visits next week. Daniel Boone will try to snap its losing streak against rival Twin Valley.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Solanco | 14 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
| Daniel Boone | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Solanco | Steele, 2 block punt return (Baber kick) | 10:54 |
| 1 | Solanco | Harris, 2 run (Baber kick) | 5:59 |
| 1 | DanieI Boone | Rotter, 16 run (Brown kick) | 3:22 |
| 2 | Solanco | Baber, 14 pass from Forren (Baber kick) | 7:11 |
| 2 | Daniel Boone | Rotter, 75 run (Brown kick) | 6:14 |
| 2 | Solanco | Forren, 35 run (Baber kick) | 4:30 |
| 2 | Solanco | Smith, 54 interception return (Baber kick) | 1:11 |
| 3 | Solanco | Mellinger, 1 run (Baber kick) | 2:57 |
| 4 | Daniel Boone | Domenech, 67 pass from Rotter (Brown kick) | 9:28 |
| 4 | Solanco | Mellinger, 4 run (Baber kick) | 4:48 |
Team statistics
| Solanco | Daniel Boone | |
| First downs | 19 | 9 |
| Rushes-yards | 54-384 | 19-165 |
| Passing yards | 49 | 195 |
| Total yards | 433 | 360 |
| Passes | 3-5-0 | 11-32-3 |
| Fumbles-lost | 5-5 | 2-1 |
| Punts-average | 0-0 | 5-24.4 |
| Penalties-yards | 5-50 | 5-50 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Solanco: Harris 22-135, Forren 18-133, Mellinger 10-80, Leibley 2-11, Baber 1-19, Bangura 1-6.
Daniel Boone: Rotter 9-116, Tolosky 5-23, Kryman 3-12, Souder 2-14.
PASSING
Solanco: Mellinger 2-4-0-35, Forren 1-1-0-14.
Daniel Boone: Rotter 11-32-3-195.
RECEIVING
Solanco: Baber 3-49
Daniel Boone: Heffner 3-71, Domenech 1-67, High 2-34, Tolosky 2-14, Burns 2-5, Klick 1-4
INTERCEPTIONS
Solanco: Baber 2, Smith
