Fast and furious
Shenango (35) vs. Springdale (7)
Written: Nov 01, 2014
By Shawn Fox
New Castle News
It didn’t take the Shenango High football team long to set the tone last night.
And in the process of doing so, the Wildcats ended a 12-year WPIAL playoff victory drought.
Seventh-seeded Shenango put together a 14-play, 83-yard drive for a touchdown on the game’s first possession and dominated from there, as the ’Cats knocked off visiting Springdale 35-7 in the first round of the Class A playoffs.
“It’s a credit to the kids,” Shenango coach Mike Commesso said. “I told them before the game the last time Shenango football won a playoff game they were in kindergarten. I think it’s pretty big. It’s exciting for them, it’s exciting for the school and exciting for the community. I’m very proud of them.”
Shenango, which improved to 7-3 on the season, will next face second-seeded Clairton in the quarterfinals either at a time and site to be announced. The high-powered Bears (10-0) advanced with a 62-3 victory over Chartiers-Houston last night. Clairton posted a 70-13 victory over Springdale in Week 4.
The ‘Cats, who were making their first postseason appearance since 2006, flexed their offensive muscles from the get-go.
After taking the opening kickoff at its own 17-yard line, Shenango embarked on an 83-yard march that chewed nearly seven minutes off the clock. The ’Cats relied heavily on their ground game in churning up yardage on the drive, rushing for 57 yards on 13 attempts. Brett Hoover polished things off by scoring from a yard out. Dylan Kleckner added the first of his five extra-point kicks to give the hosts a 7-0 lead with 5:22 remaining in the first quarter.
“I think it set the tone,” Commesso said of the opening drive. “It set the tone that we were going to be a physical football team and that we could move the ball and that we could score points. I thought it gave us a lot of confidence.”
Shenango added to its lead on the first play of the second quarter, as Hunter Waskin broke free for a 40-yard TD run.
“The line blocked everybody perfectly, and I just went from there,” the junior running back said. “It’s amazing. I love playing for this team. I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else.”
Waskin staked the ‘Cats to a 21-0 lead with 3:51 remaining before the half by scoring from 7 yards out to cap a 10-play, 97-yard drive following a Dynamos punt.
“The kids played great,” Commesso said. “We challenged them to come out here and be physical, to be disciplined and to execute, and I thought we did all three of those things.”
Springdale, the No. 10 seed, which ended the season at 6-4, had a chance to put points on the scoreboard just before the half, but Anthony Keyser blocked Brennan Rodden’s 36-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
The teams traded field position in the third quarter before the Dynamos broke through early in the fourth on Ben Sowinski’s 5-yard touchdown burst. Rodden’s PAT kick cut the deficit to 21-7 with 11:24 left in the contest.
Shenango, however, answered the Dynamos’ score by driving 69 yards in nine plays. Tyler Root’s 5-yard TD run capped the drive and gave the ’Cats a 28-7 lead with 8:22 on the clock.
“They had all of the momentum,” Commesso said. “We didn’t have the ball except for six plays in the third quarter. They had cut it to two scores. That was an important drive, and it was nice to see the kids respond that way.”
Springdale was forced to punt on its next possession, and Shenango turned that special teams play into a bizarre touchdown.
Waskin fielded Austin Kline’s punt at the Springdale 41. He returned the ball to near the 20, when he was hit and fumbled the ball. As the night had gone for the ‘Cats, the ball bounced directly to Brandon Ryder, who took it in from the 20 to set the final.
“That was just a lucky bounce, and it was fun to see,” Commesso said with a laugh.
(Email: ncsports@ncnewsonline.com)
SPRINGDALE SHENANGO
14 First downs 14
190 Yards Rushing 276
39 Yards Lost 2
151 Net Rushing 274
23 Passes Attempted 4
9 Passes Completed 2
2 Passes Intercepted 0
81 Yards Passing 35
232 Total Yards 309
5-0 Fumbles-Lost 2-1
3-35 Punts-Average 3-30.3
2-10 Penalties-Yards 6-30
SPRINGDALE 0 0 0 7 — 7
SHENANGO 7 14 0 14 — 35
Scoring plays
SHENANGO — Brett Hoover, 1-yard run (Dylan Kleckner kick).
SHENANGO — Hunter Waskin, 40-yard run (Kleckner kick).
SHENANGO — Waskin, 7-yard run (Kleckner kick).
SPRINGDALE — Ben Sowinski, 5-yard run (Brennan Rodden kick).
SHENANGO — Tyler Root, 5-yard run (Kleckner kick).
SHENANGO — Brandon Ryder, 20-yard punt return (Kleckner kick).
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