JOHNSONBURG - What goes around, comes around.
A year after Johnsonburg humiliated Sheffield 48-0 on their home field, the Wolverines returned the favor Friday taking advantage of 10 - yes 10 - Johnsonburg turnovers and winning 40-0 at Johnsonburg's Memorial Field.
The win wasn't the prettiest in Sheffield history as the Wolverines also turned the ball over six times. However, that's not what really mattered on this night as the Wolverines improved to 1-3 and won for the first time in nearly a calender year.
"This game was a great morale booster for our team and is exactly what we needed as we enter our divisional schedule next week," said Sheffield coach Bryan Gould. "This was a crucial game to get back to where we thought we should be and our guys went out and dominated on both sides of the ball."
Playing in a quagmire, the Rams played generous hosts in the game's early moments, turning the ball over on each of their first five possessions. Shequan Wright had an interception on the first drive and Nick Bonavita, Jeb Greto, Dylan Smith and John Steele all recovered fumbles.
The Wolverines were able to take advantage of two of the five turnovers in the first quarter, building a 14-0 lead. After recovering a fumble at the Rams 26, Sheffield needed just four plays to score on a six-yard touchdown run by Bonavita. George Fitch's extra point failed and the Wolverines led 6-0.
The next scoring drive started at the Johnsonburg 11 and ended with Wright scoring from two yards out. Dashawn Whitaker converted the two-point conversion to put Sheffield up 14-0 with 2:26 left in the first quarter.
As hard as it is to believe, Johnsonburg's fifth turnover of the first quarter also helped set up Sheffield's third touchdown - an eight-yard run by Bonavita with 10:29 remaining in the second quarter that made it 20-0.
Further damage in the second quarter was only avoided due to penalty. Wright hit Tyler Fitzgerald with a middle screen that covered 70 yards for a touchdown, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty.
It didn't take long for Sheffield to rebound and before the half was over, Wright added a seven-yard touchdown run and an 11-yard touchdown pass to Whitaker that gave the visitors a 34-0 edge.
The Wolverines would only get one score in the second half, but it would be a big one as Kwante Johnson ran back the opening kick of the second half 70 yards for the score and a 40-0 lead.
Bonavita ended with a team-high 79 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns and Wright added 44 yards on 14 carries with two scores. The Wolverines were dominant all night, outgaining the Rams by a 248 to negative 37 count. The Rams finished with just one first down.
Sheffield (1-3) returns to action Saturday, October 1 at home against Coudersport.
Sheffield-Johnsonburg Stats
Sheffield142060-40
Johnsonburg0000- 0
First Quarter
S- Nick Bonavita 6 run, 5:46, kick failed
S- Shequan Wright 2 run, 2:26, Dashawn Whitaker run
Second Quarter
S- Bonavita 8 run, 10:29, run failed
S- Wright 7 run, 1:19, Whitaker run
S- Wright to Whitaker 11 pass, 0:23, run failed
Third Quarter
S- Kwante Johnson 70 kick return, 11:47, run failed
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SJ
Offensive Plays5434
First downs131
Rushes-yards40-18921-(-47)
Passing5910
Total Yards248-37
Comp-Att-Int5-14-23-13-3
Fumbles-Lost7-410-7
Penalties-Yards6-454-35
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-S- Dashawn Whitaker 1 for 5, Nick Bonavita 16 for 79, 2 TD, Shequan Wright 14 for 44, 2 TD, Dylan Smith 3 for 23, Brandon Ryan 3 for -10, Brandon Johnston 3 for 38; J- Quinn Luhr 4 for -8, Eric Bevaqua 2 for -1, Austin Servidea 7 for -28, Troy Padasak 1 for 3, Shane Bickford 4 for -9, David Redmond 1 for -3, Kyle Sheldon 2 for -1
PASSING-S- Shequan Wright 5 of 12 for 59, TD, INT, Ike Nearing 0 of 1 for 0, Brandon Ryan 0 of 1 for 0, INT; J- Quinn Lohr 2 of 5 for 2, 2 INT, Austin Servidea 1 of 8 for 8, INT
RECEIVING-S- Dashawn Whitaker 1 for 11, TD, Nick Bonavita 1 for 7, Ike Nearing 1 for 7, Dylan Smith 1 for 6, Hector Collazo 1 for 28; J- David Redmond 1 for -3, Troy Padasak 1 for 5, Michael Suhey 1 for 8