Sunday, July 17, 2005
Eagles roll past Ottawa
BY DAVE LAURIHA STAFF WRITER
After a long week of soul-searching, the Scranton Eagles had much on their minds Saturday night at Scranton Memorial Stadium.
All it took was a jolt of energy from Riverside graduate Eric Paroby to make a great difference this weekend.
The Eagles went for the jugular early Saturday, converting a turnover into a 25-yard scoring reception by Paroby to spark a 32-7 victory over the Ottawa Deacon Demons in Empire Football League play.
One play after Jon Marion recovered a fumbled punt, the Eagles extended their lead to 13-0 late in the first quarter.
Paroby streaked down the middle and hauled in a John Kennedy spiral in stride for a 25-yard touchdown.
“We jumped on them early. Sometimes, momentum can mean the game,’’ said Paroby, who finished with four catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. “You get a team down, and it’s not often they come back.’’
After not scoring last week in a 49-point loss to Albany, a 13-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game seemed like heaven to the Eagles (1-1).
“That’s the best time to take a shot and go for it all,’’ said Mike Woodard, who was given the game ball for his first coaching victory for the Eagles.
What it meant was a slightly more relaxed team that was ready to protect its lead and grind out a victory.
They were content to do that, until Paroby nearly put the game out of reach.
Mid Valley graduate Nick Parlanti had scored on a nine-yard run with 3:40 left in the half before Jim DeJoseph stepped up with his second interception of the game.
His 39-yard return set the Eagles up at the Ottawa 28, and three plays later, Paroby got into the end zone again, taking a short pass and breaking it up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown play and a 25-0 lead.
“It’s a little dig route, designed to go 15 yards,’’ Paroby said. “It’s not meant to be a big play. I got a lot of blocking.’’
The Eagles went for the jugular early Saturday, converting a turnover into a 25-yard scoring reception by Paroby to spark a 32-7 victory over the Ottawa Deacon Demons in Empire Football League play.
One play after Jon Marion recovered a fumbled punt, the Eagles extended their lead to 13-0 late in the first quarter.
Paroby streaked down the middle and hauled in a John Kennedy spiral in stride for a 25-yard touchdown.
“We jumped on them early. Sometimes, momentum can mean the game,’’ said Paroby, who finished with four catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. “You get a team down, and it’s not often they come back.’’
After not scoring last week in a 49-point loss to Albany, a 13-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game seemed like heaven to the Eagles (1-1).
“That’s the best time to take a shot and go for it all,’’ said Mike Woodard, who was given the game ball for his first coaching victory for the Eagles.
What it meant was a slightly more relaxed team that was ready to protect its lead and grind out a victory.
They were content to do that, until Paroby nearly put the game out of reach.
Mid Valley graduate Nick Parlanti had scored on a nine-yard run with 3:40 left in the half before Jim DeJoseph stepped up with his second interception of the game.
His 39-yard return set the Eagles up at the Ottawa 28, and three plays later, Paroby got into the end zone again, taking a short pass and breaking it up the middle for a 32-yard touchdown play and a 25-0 lead.
“It’s a little dig route, designed to go 15 yards,’’ Paroby said. “It’s not meant to be a big play. I got a lot of blocking.’’
©The Times-Tribune 2005
