LA PLUME, PA- Keystone football fell 69-0 to Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday at the Keystone Turf Field and Track Complex. The Giants' longest drive reached the red zone in the first quarter, and their defense held the Warhawks to field goals on two third-quarter possessions.
Whitewater went ahead on an interception return less than a minute into the game and scored again following a takeaway to make it 14-0. Keystone answered with its best offensive series of the afternoon. Starting at their own 15-yard line, the Giants gained a first down when Frankie Leyshon (Lake Ariel, PA/Western Wayne) found Johann Hennigan (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) for 38 yards on third-and-10. Leyshon connected with Quinten Barclay (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) for another 14 yards on the next snap, and Keystone advanced to the Whitewater 18 before a fumble ended the drive.
Whitewater added two more touchdowns to lead 28-0 after the first quarter. On Keystone's final possession of the period, Malakai Dickens (Baltimore, Md./Owings Mills) ran for 11 yards on third-and-10 to keep the drive moving. Dickens later completed a 12-yard pass to Jasiah Holt (Norwood, NC/South Stanly). Whitewater scored four times in the second quarter and took a 56-0 lead into halftime.
The Giants opened the second half on defense and forced a punt. Anthony Rosser (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) broke up a third-down pass to end Whitewater's first possession of the third quarter.
Later in the quarter, Keystone kept the Warhawks out of the end zone after they reached the Giants' 1-yard line. Elijah Houdershieldt (Carbondale, PA/Carbondale Area) and Akir Dixon (Allentown, PA/William Allen) combined to drop a runner for a two-yard loss on second down, and Aidan Edwards (Waldorf, MD/Westlake) made the tackle on third down. Whitewater kicked a field goal. The Warhawks added another field goal late in the quarter and scored their final touchdown with 1:56 remaining in the fourth.
Dixon finished with a team-high nine tackles for Keystone. Rosser had seven tackles and a pass breakup, while Houdershieldt recorded five tackles. Nicholas DeFrancesco (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) and Mahkai Allen (Wilmington, DE/William Penn) added four tackles apiece. Sean Owens (Waymart, PA/Western Wayne) handled five punts, including kicks of 57 and 60 yards.
The Giants aim to improve their 1-3 record as the team heads down to Texas to take on the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor on October 3 at 6:00 PM EST.
