Inching closer
Shenango (35) vs. Union (6)
Written: Oct 03, 2015
  By Ron Poniewasz Jr.
New Castle News
The Shenango High football team took another step toward a second straight WPIAL Class A playoff berth Friday night.
And Jason Wallace was a key contributor.
Wallace scored four touchdowns, including three coming on the ground, to lift the Wildcats to a 35-6 Big Seven Conference home win over Union.
Wallace found the end zone on rushing scores of 20, 1 and 2, while hauling in a 49-yard scoring aerial from Evan Kendall.
“I thought we ran the ball well tonight,” Shenango coach Mike Commesso said. “It must have been Jason’s turn to carry us. He had a great night.
“(Hunter) Waskin and (Tyler) Root did some nice things as well. It’s nice to be able to spread the ball around a little bit. I think that makes it tough on their defense.”
A 5-foot-9, 205-pound senior running back/linebacker, Wallace plowed his way for 52 yards on eight carries to go along with one reception for 49 yards.
“We just executed well,” Wallace said. “The line played a great game, they blocked all their assignments. All I did was run.
“The line takes care of their assignments. Usually they’re where they are supposed to be and they stay on their blocks. I’m really glad to have them blocking for me.”
The Wildcats (4-0 conference, 4-1 overall) hold a one-game lead over second-place South Side Beaver (3-1, 4-1) in the conference standings. The teams will collide at 7 p.m. Friday on the Rams’ home soil.
“That will be a big test for us,” Commesso said. “Playing on the road is never an easy thing. They’re doing well in the conference. It should be a good game.”
South Side Beaver is coming off a 33-7 victory over Vincentian Academy on Friday night.
The Wildcats registered 207 yards on the ground and 280 total against the Scotties (2-2, 2-3).
“Bruising,” Union coach Stacy Robinson said of Shenango’s ground game. “We expected a tough fight up front and they sure gave us one.
“Wallace did a great job for them. They have some players. It’s their time I guess. They took it to us pretty good.”
Shenango came out rolling, taking the opening kickoff and marching 62 yards in six plays. Wallace capped the drive with a 20-yard scoring tote. Dylan Kleckner booted the conversion kick for a 7-0 lead with 9:14 to go in the opening frame.
The Wildcats’ Hunter Waskin ended Union’s first drive with his first of two interceptions. The first pick came against Joe Gunn and the second was off Gary Brewton on a fake punt.
Waskin’s first aerial theft set up Shenango at the Scotties’ 18. Five plays later, Wallace plowed in from a yard out and Kleckner’s kick made it 14-0 with 3:11 remaining in the opening quarter.
Thirty of Wallace’s rushing yards came in the first quarter, which is what he had at the break as well.
“He was hitting the hole and making some nice cuts after he got through the first line,” Commesso said of Wallace’s rushing. “They were trying to take away the tailbacks a little bit so Jason picked up the slack.”
The score held at 14-0 until Kendall’s 49-yard hookup with Wallace 4:45 to play in the third period. The Scotties got on the board when Jordan Best ran in from three yards out with 1:47 to go in the frame to narrow the count to 21-6.
Union rolled up 18 first downs and 262 yards of total offense.
“I ‘d like to think we can move the ball against anybody,” Robinson said. “But if you don’t put it in the end zone, it doesn’t matter.”
Joe Gunn led Union’s offensive attack with 74 yards rushing on 15 carries. He was 15 of 22 through the air for 133 yards with an interception.
“We were a little bit bend but don’t break,” Commesso said. “I give Union a lot of credit. They were executing and they were controlling the ball and the clock. Even though they were passing, they had the ball for a long time. Time of possession probably favored them a lot.
“We made plays when we had to. it was another good performance by our defense.”
Wallace tacked on his fourth score of the night on a two-yard TD tote just four seconds into the final frame and Waskin added the final score on a 10-yard touchdown run with 6:32 to play. Kleckner made all five of his extra points. Waskin led all rushers with 102 yards on 10 totes.
Union returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday at Riverside. The Panthers, who possess an aerial circus, are coming off a 65-3 setback to Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic. That will be a pivotal clash in the race for a postseason berth for both squads.
“We know the road is going to be tough, regardless,” Robinson said. “Each week is going to be tough. We’re in this business to try and win football games and we’ll get back to it in the morning and try and win another football game Friday night.”
(Email: rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com)
UNION SHENANGO
18 First downs 11
151 Yards Rushing 207
22 Yards Lost 0
129 Net Rushing 207
23 Passes Attempted 3
15 Passes Completed 2
2 Passes Intercepted 0
133 Yards Passing 73
262 Total Yards 280
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 1-1
1-24 Punts-Average 3-34
8-75 Penalties-Yards 3-20
UNION 0 0 6 0 — 6
SHENANGO 14 0 7 14 — 35
Scoring plays
SHENANGO — Jason Wallace, 20-yard run (Dylan Kleckner kick).
SHENANGO — Wallace, 1-yard run (Kleckner kick).
SHENANGO — Wallace, 49-yard pass from Evan Kendall (Kleckner kick).
UNION — Jordan Best, 3-yard run (kick blocked).
SHENANGO — Wallace, 2-yard run (Kleckner kick).
SHENANGO — Hunter Waskin, 10-yard run (Kleckner kick).
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