Published: September 07, 2008 12:56 am         

Smithsburg upsets Northern 27-21

SMITHSBURG — The yardstick would tell you otherwise but Northern was a half-yard away from a chance to upset Smithsburg to start the season. Instead the Huskies were handed a loss Friday, losing to the Leopards for the second straight year.

Smithsburg started off strong by scoring twice in the first quarter. Josh Conway caught a 26-yard pass from Kyle Orndorf for the first score at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter. The score was pushed to 14-0 when Eric Parker rushed in from the three.

Northern got on the board in the second quarter when it drove 25 yards after recovering a Leopards fumble. Zach Fratz capped the drive with a three-yard run.

Smithsburg looked to bury the Huskies when Conway caught an 11-yard throw for his second touchdown to make it 21-7 with 40 seconds left in the half. Fratz struck again though, giving Northern new life by returning the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to put the score at 21-14 at halftime.

Northern would finish the evening with 98 total yards, while Smithsburg amassed 346. The Leopards rushed for 297 yards n 50 carries, and were led by Eric Parker with 207 yards on 30 carries.

Parker scored his second touchdown on a one-yard plunge in the third.

The Huskies got to within six points when Kyle Gillum caught an eight-yard touchdown from Josh Duckworth with 2:15 left in the fourth.

After Smithsburg recovered an onside kick, Northern had a chance to stop then on fourth and half a yard, but the Leopards gained over a yard on the play and were able to run out the clock.

Adam Moranduzzo led Northern’s defense with 12 yards, and Jared Rodeheaver, Jason Green and Randy Wiley all had fumble recoveries. Rodeheaver also had a sack.

Northern (0-1) will play Williamsport at home, 7 p.m. on Friday.