Enter Robbie DiOrio. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound junior rushed for 182 yards on 25 carries, including touchdown runs of 6, 4, and 14 yards, to help lead the Renegades to a 42-21 victory.
Enter Evan Wayns, who did not start the game. The 5-9, 188-pound junior ran the ball nine times for 107 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown run, and established himself as a back hard to bring down.
Shawnee coach Tim Gushue sees Wayns as a wrecking ball off whom a lot of would-be tacklers bounce.
"He's more of a power-type guy, and Robby is more of a slasher," Gushue said.
Shawnee improved to 3-1, and Seneca fell to 2-2.
"Before the game, it was all about the season is for Kyle now," DiOrio said. "I feel I need to step up on offense, but it's not just me. Evan Wayns had a huge game, and our offensive line is performing better than ever.
"It is a big momentum booster for us knowing that we can persevere through all this."
By intermission, the Renegades had a 35-14 lead on runs by junior quarterback Jamie Jackopin, Anthony and Robby DiOrio and Wayns.
Seneca quarterback A.J. Miskiewicz, meanwhile, was hampered by Shawnee's defensive line, which penetrated the Golden Eagles backfield.
The Renegades started the game hot as Robby DiOrio accumulated 54 yards on five carries that helped to put the ball on Senaca's 1-yard line. From there, Jackopin punched it in. Vince White kicked the first of five extra points to give the hosts a 7-0 lead 7 minutes, 27 seconds into the game.
Sophomore linebacker Anthony DiOrio scored when he scooped up a punt blocked by Nick Delicata and sprinted 8 yards to the end zone to give the Renegades a 14-0 lead with 1:21 left in the first period.
Miskiewicz set up Seneca's first touchdown by throwing a 40-yard bomb to Dylan Schulte, who was taken down on Shawnee's 3. Joe Pawlowski ran it in from there, and the Golden Eagles trailed by 14-7 with 10:10 remaining until the half.
