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After opening the season with two victories, Smithsburg’s football team have found the going tougher the last three weeks.
The Leopards suffered their third straight loss on Friday, a 28-21 setback at home against the Catoctin Cougars in an MVAL Antietam game.
Catoctin (3-2, 2-0) never trailed against Smithsburg (2-3, 0-2). The Cougars got their first two touchdowns by taking advantage of two Leopards turnovers.
Early in the first quarter, Smithsburg fumbled and Catoctin made the recovery at its own 43-yard line. The Cougars quickly moved down the field and scored on Charles Jenkins’ 16-yard touchdown run up the left side. Peyton Laramore made the first of his four extra-point kicks.
With 2:49 to go in the first quarter, Catoctin’s Corey Jochim intercepted a pass at the Cougars 30 and went from the right side to the left side 70 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
With 10:19 left in the second quarter, Devin Watkins broke loose on the left side for a 32-yard touchdown run as Catoctin increased its advantage to 21-0.
The Leopards got on the scoreboard with 8:50 left in the first half when senior Austin Ryan started down the left side, then cut back to the right for a 44-yard touchdown run to narrow the gap to 21-6.
Defense dominated the third quarter. With 6:37 remaining in the fourth, Collin Schildt charged through the middle for a 5-yard touchdown run as Catoctin to expand its lead to 28-6.
Smithsburg junior Caleb Cardone returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards along the right sideline for a touchdown. Zachary Krall threw a conversion pass to Matt Stevens to help the Leopards reduce the deficit to 28-14.
With 1:18 left, Krall scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak and Ryan kicked the extra point as Smithsburg got within 28-21. But then the Cougars ran out the clock to seal the win.
Catoctin 28, Smithsburg 21
Catoctin 14 7 0 7 — 28
Smithsburg 0 6 0 15 — 21
First Quarter
C — Charles Jenkins 16 run (Peyton Laramore kick)
C — Corey Jochim 70 interception return (Laramore kick)
Second Quarter
C — Devin Watkins 32 run (Laramore kick)
S — Austin Ryan 44 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
C — Collin Schildt 5 run (Laramore kick)
S — Caleb Cardone 85 kickoff return (Matt Stevens pass from Zachary Krall)
S — Krall 1 run (Ryan kick)