Pyros shutout Chaos in semifinal, 7-0
By STEVE KEPPEL
Sports Writer
When Pyros of Pasquerilla East prepared to take on the Cavanaugh Chaos in the interhall playoffs they knew it would be a tough game.
The 4-2 Chaos came out fired up and shut down the Pyros for the entire first half. Their hopes for a championship bid were dashed when Pyros scored a touchdown late in the game and won 7-0.
This earned PE an unprecedented fifth straight trip to the stadium.
The first half was all defense as both offenses failed to put any points on the board. Cavanaugh's defense played especially well and confused the PE offense with a mix of coverage packages and a strong rush on the quarterback.
"They played a man/zone and their ends were really coming hard all game," Pasquerilla East quarterback Elizabeth Plummer said.
The Pyros defense, often overshadowed by their high scoring offense, was the key to victory on Sunday.
"We really couldn't get the ball moving, their secondary played really well," Cavanaugh captain and offensive lineman Melisa Tacey said.
Plummer gave the Pyros defense due credit in their victory.
"Our defense was crucial, we depend a lot on them and sometimes the offense gets more credit but we really rely on our defense," she said.
In the second half the tough defensive play continued and the game remained scoreless until there were only 5 minutes left to play. PE got the ball with good field position after a short punt by Cavanaugh. After tough scrambles by Plummer, the Pyros were deep in Chaos territory. A few penalties and dropped passes later, the Pyros faced fourth-and-goal from the 20-yard line. Plummer dropped back, avoided the rush, and lofted a fade into the corner of the endzone that was caught by receiver Molly Rost in the midst of two Cavanugh defenders.
"Molly had a little height advantage and I just lofted it up to give her a chance to go after it," Plummer said.
Pasquerilla East, lead by Plummer and their upperclassman, will take its undefeated record and play for a third-straight championship title in the stadium.
"This is what you work for all year and it is my last time there and hopefully we'll go out on a winning note" Plummer said.
Cavanaugh's season is over but the Chaos are a very young team and will have a solid squad next year if most of their underclassmen return.
"We are really excited that the season went as well as it did, in the beginning we struggled but we really came together as a team," Tacey said. "We credit it all to the coaches. They did a great job."
The Pyros will take on the Welsh Whirlwinds, who defeated the top-seeded Pangborn Phoxes, in two weeks. The Pyros beat them convincingly in their first meeting earlier this season.
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, November 9, 1999
