Flack scores 5 TDs as No. 4 Derry routs Mt. Pleasant

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 14, 2018 | 11:09 PM

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Derry football coach Tim Sweeney wanted his team to come out Friday and set the tone early.

Justin Flack did on the Trojans’ first offensive play.

Derry’s 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior running back dashed 71 yards for a touchdown and scored five first-half touchdowns to lead the Trojans to a 48-7 victory against Mt. Pleasant in a WPIAL Class 3A Big East Conference game.

No. 4 ranked Derry (4-0, 2-0), which will host No. 2 North Catholic in a Week 4 game, dominated all but two minutes of the first half.

The Trojans capitalized Mt. Pleasant mistakes — a bad snap in punt formation, an interception (Pryce Donovan) and a poor punt — to build a 41-7 lead at halftime.

“They’re a great team, and they played a great game,” Mt. Pleasant coach Jason Fazekas said.

Flack’s second touchdown, a 4-yard run, came after punter Alex Kadylak was forced to chase down a poor snap. The Trojans started at the Mt. Pleasant 28 and scored four plays later.

“I didn’t get touched on the first play because I had great blocks from the line,” Flack said. “All the credit goes to my linemen. My performance is what it is.”

Derry made it 21-0 late in the first quarter on a Hunter Hebenthal 2-yard run after a 20-yard punt gave the Trojans the ball at the Mt. Pleasant 36.

“Coach wanted us to come out strong and fast,” Derry senior defensive lineman Dom DeLuca said. “Justin had a big week, and he was incredible. We fed off him. He was a beast out there.”

Mt. Pleasant’s offense finally got going early in the second quarter following a defensive stop when quarterback Lucas Pieszak tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Johnson.

Pieszak completed five consecutive passes (three to Johnson and two to Kadylak) during the five-play, 62-yard drive. He finished 8 for 14 for 106 yards. Johnson had five catches for 78 yards.

“Our defense played pretty well,” Sweeney said. “They had that one drive, but we adjusted.”

Derry outgained Mt. Pleasant, 456-89. The Vikings had a minus-17 rushing yards.

But Derry responded by putting the game out of reach as the Trojans scored on their next three possessions. Flack scored on a 6-yard run to cap a 10-play, 65-yard drive.

“It doesn’t surprise me about Justin,” Sweeney said. “He works hard in the offseason, and when you break tackles and that’s been his commitment in the weight room ever since he’s been with us.

“He’ll be a tremendous football player in college. He’s a college football player right now playing high school football.”

Flack rushed for 114 yards on nine carries, and he and sophomore quarterback Paul Koontz connected on touchdown passes of 76 and 36 yards.

“I think we’re more into points on the board that statistics,” Sweeney said. “I thought Paul did a good job. He had time to throw, and he hit some passes. It was a nice effort by Paul.

“Our offensive line certainly executed what we wanted to get done. We were happy with their performance. It all starts up front for us.”

DeLuca scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Koontz in the third quarter, which induced the running clock in the second half. DeLuca, who will celebrate his 18th birthday Saturday, had two quarterback backs and four tackles for losses.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

Tags: Derry Area, Mt. Pleasant