RACINE — The Southern Tornadoes notched their second straight win of the 2008 season by defeating the Green Bobcats 31-14 at Roger Lee Adams Memorial field on Friday during boys’ non-league football action.

Southern (2-3) tallied 404 yards of offense while holding Green (2-2) to 146 yards. The Tornadoes are averaging over 350 yards a game in their last three contests.

Once again one of the keys in the Southern victory was the Tornadoes’ ability to create many stars. Southern shined offensively, especially during the second half. After the game, an elated Southern head coach Dennis Teaford praised his kids.

“Our offensive line was tremendous tonight. They controlled the game from the opening snap. And we got big yards tonight out of Manuel and Coppick. Those two were clutch. Everyone played their role well, very well.”

Michael Manuel and Dustin Salser took turns under center. When Manuel went to the backfield Salser handled the snaps, running the point for the likes of Sean Coppick, Manuel and Greg Jenkins.

After holding Green to a three and out, Southern opened the scoring by marching 65 yards on 11 plays. The drive was capped off by a six-yard touchdown run by Manuel. A Zach Ash extra point gave Southern a 7-0 lead with 4:36 to go in the first quarter. Green would again go three and out, but was able to pin the Tornadoes inside their own five yard line.

Southern’s situation worsened when Green’s Cliff Banner picked off a Manuel pass that gave Green a first and goal. The Southern Defense stood strong to keep the Bobcats off the board. That stand may have been the difference in the game; or perhaps the difference in the season. After the staunch stand Southern played with renewed confidence.

On the next possession Southern again turned the ball over on downs, Green drove down the field to strike on a 22-yard touchdown run by Banner. Banner also ran in the 2 point conversion giving Green an 8-7 lead with 7:57 to go in the first half.

Green would capitalize once again on two costly Southern penalties, taking over inside the Tornado 40. Five plays later Ian Harris had a one yard touchdown run to give Green a 14-7 lead at the half. Green would not get into Southern territory the rest of the night.

Southern must have received a tune-up at the half, compliments of the coaching staff. The required maintenance transformed the first half clunker into a streamlined Cadillac.

The Tornadoes scored on their opening drive of the second half when Manuel hit Jerry Justice with a 20-yard touchdown pass. Southern fullback Sean Coppick ran in the 2 point conversion to give Southern a 15-14 lead with 9:48 to go in the 3rd quarter. Coppick had set up the touchdown with a 30-yard kick return. Southern’s spirit was renewed, and the ever-important variable of momentum echoed loudly from the Tornado sideline.

On the next drive, Southern drove methodically down the field and hit paydirt when Greg Jenkins took the Dustin Salser handoff 3 yards around the end to put Southern up 21-14 with 4:17 to go in the 3rd.

A massive Taylor Lemley kick pinned Green deep in their own end zone, but the Bobcats seemed to respond to the adversity. Green got runs of 15 yards and 8 yards from Cliff Bonner to get out of the shadow of their own goal. The drive stalled and Green punted to Southern’s Eric Buzzard. Buzzard returned the kick 15 yards to set Southern up at midfield.

The Southern offense went to work. With 9:56 to go in the game, the Tornadoes throttled ahead by two scores when Zach Ash connected on a 30 yard field goal, pushing the tally to 24-14. Southern’s defense flexed its muscles and forced Green to give up the ball on downs at its own 35 yard line.

Southern made the Bobcats pay for the good field position. The hosts got great blocking on two key 4th down runs from Michael Manuel. SHS then put the game out of reach on a 2-yard run from Dustin Salser. The Salser run and Ash extra point put Southern up 31-14 with 2:46 to go in the game. Green succumbed on four plays, thus allowing the Tornadoes to take a knee as time ran out.

Coach Teaford called attention to a 4th and 3 play in the fourth quarter as the deciding moment of the game.

“We needed this play bad and I wasn’t sure what to call” said Teaford. “Newly converted offensive tackle Taylor Lemley came to me and said ‘run behind me and we will get the first down.’ The next play was a 5-yard Michael Manuel run off tackle for a first down.”

The third-year coach added, “That takes confidence for a kid to say something like that. Confidence like that is one reason why we have won two in a row and are playing well. We beat a quality Green team by showing heart and having some much needed Grit.”

For Green Ian Harris had nine carries for five yards and a touchdown, while Clint Sayre added 38 yards on eight totes. Green also got three carries for eight yards from Xavier Justis and 11 carries for 80 yards from Cliff Banner. Banner also added one catch for 15 yards

Southern saw 121 yards and a touchdown came from Michael Manuel’s 20 carries. Sean Coppick added 117 yards on 20 carries and Greg Jenkins had eight carries for 38 yards. Dustin Salser added seven yards and a touchdown while Jerry Justis also had a 20-yard touchdown reception.

The Southern Defensive effort was anchored by junior linebackers Greg Jenkins and Taylor Lemley. Jenkins tallied 10 tackles while Lemley added 8 tackles and a sack.

Southern will begin league play on Friday when they host Federal Hocking.