HS FOOTBALL: Devils keep Mason-Dixon trophy in Shenandoah, defeat Hancock 47-6
SHENANDOAH – The Mason-Dixon trophy is staying in the Keystone State, as Shenandoah Valley defeated Hancock 47-6.
The Panthers made the two and a half hour drive north from Washington County, Maryland this year after hosting the Devils last year.
Both teams were not only contending with each other but also the weather, as intermittent downpours from Tropical Storm Ophelia swept through the valley.
The first score came for Shenandoah Valley on the ground with a keeper by senior quarterback Ben Dempster in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Dempster found his usual target in senior receiver Nick Ryan for a long touchdown to give the Devils a 14-0 advantage which held by halftime.
On the opening drive of the second half, junior running back Jeremy Thomas found paydirt, and Dempster followed up with another rushing touchdown for a 28-0 lead in the third quarter.
Hancock junior running back Aiden McCarty broke free for a long touchdown run in the third to put the Panthers on the board. However, the Devils immediately answered with Ryan returning the ensuing kickoff all the way home.
Ryan added another score on the ground and Hancock blocked the point after. Joel Nunez scored the final touchdown, with Shenandoah taking a knee on the point after.
The game was not without adversity for the Devils. Hancock’s defense managed to pick off three Dempster-thrown passes.
After the game, prior to the trophy presentation, the opposing coaches picked offensive and defensive MVPs from the other team. They are as follows:
OFFENSE: Ben Dempster (Shenandoah); Aiden McCarty (Hancock)
DEFENSE: Kelvyn Cordero (Shenandoah); Isaiah Demory (Hancock)
The Devils improve to 2-3 on the year and will travel to Tri-Valley next week to take on the Bulldogs.