"This was a dangerous game for us," Beavers coach Jason Shilala said. "We couldn't be flat and look ahead. But athletically we were a little bit better than them."
Lions head coach Max Shoemaker summized the contest similarly. "We just didn't seem as intense as we needed to be. I'm disappointed in our focus. They were just the better team."
The Beavers piled up 419 yards while holding the Lions to just 74, a season-best effort for the Beavers. It was also the first shutout for the Beavers since Oct. 14, 2005 when they blanked Bradford, 37-0.
DuBois (5-2) helped its cause with a strong start.
Receiving the ball on the opening kickoff, the Beavers marched 77 yards and ate nearly seven-and-one-half minutes of clock on their opening drive before running back Garrett Malmgren crossed the goal-line from three yards out. Kyle Bish's kick made the score 7-0.
The Beavers forced another Lions punt, then went to work again, starting with a slip screen from Bish to Malmgren for 25 yards. After a Andrew Gordon touchdown run was called back for holding, the Beavers rode their running game before Kyle Bish ran a naked bootleg into the end zone from 12 yards out. After another Kyle Bish kick, the score stood 14-0.
The Beavers defense continued its strong play and after another Justin Taylor punt, Malmgren took the next offensive play 57 yards through the middle of the Chestnut Ridge defense for a 21-0 lead.
"That was a play that we worked on this week, but we played more on our heels than on our toes," Shoemaker said.
The Lions would begin to move the ball offensively on the ensuing drive, earning two of their four first downs in the game, but turned the ball over on downs at the Beavers' 31.
With little time left in the half, DuBois chipped away at Chestnut Ridge before Bish found Malmgren on a seam route for a 35-yard touchdown with no time left of the clock. Bish added the extra point to make the score 28-0.
When asked about the solid first half, Shilala said, "Chestnut Ridge had everything to gain in this game, so we wanted to come out strong. Tonight we were at full strength."
The Beavers continued to stifle the Lion attack after the break, forcing a Chestnut Ridge punt before rolling off an eight-play drive capped by Nick Bogacki's one-yard scoring dive. A mishandled point after snap left the score 34-0.
Chestnut Ridge showed life on the next drive, forcing its way into DuBois territory for only the second time in the game.
After Braden Bish dropped Lion quarterback Jase Deffibaugh for a third down sack, Brant Davis intercepted Deffibaugh's fourth down pass attempt.
A 48-yard run by Malmgren set up Cameron Kelly's 10-yard off tackle run two plays later. Josh Means' extra point settled the contest at 41-0.
Malmgren paced the DuBois attack with 198 yards from scrimmage, including 138 yards rushing along with his two touchdowns. Kyle Bish added 62 yards on the ground as well as 69 in the air, while Braden Bish led the defense with three tackles for a loss.
Chestnut Ridge leading rusher Josh McDannell, coming off of a 200-yard rushing night last week, was stymied, collecting only 16 yards on the ground. The Lion offense managed only four first downs and 29 offensive plays for 74 total yards.
"That's a tough group of kids," Shilala said of the Lions. "Athletically, we were just a little better."
DuBois hosts Perry Friday at E.J. Mansell Stadium in another important game that they need to win to try and get at least a top three seed and a first-round playoff bye in the District 6-8-9-10 subregional.
The Lions fell to 3-4 and host Northern Garrett (Md.) Friday.
Notes: The Beavers are getting healthy at the right time with Jon Sunealitis seeing extensive action and Josh Means returning to the lineup. ... Malmgren, with at least four games to play, has 843 yards rushing and 203 receiving and 11 touchdowns. ... Bish, since taking over at quarterback for the injured Danny Henry, has completed 14 of 20 passes for 176 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. ... Combined with the numbers he put up at running back, Bish has run for 355 yards and three touchdowns on 62 carries. ...When Brant Davis picked off a pass he became the seventh Beavers defender to get an interception. DuBois has 21 takeaways and is plus-9 in turnover ratio.
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Reported by Todd Holsopple, for the Tri-County Sunday
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