Lancers rout Shenango for fourth win
Neshannock (49) vs. Shenango (6)
Written: Sep 24, 2012
By Dan Irwin
New Castle News
A two-touchdown lead after one quarter hardly qualifies as a slow start.
But it may be as close as Neshannock High can come.
Back-to-back holding penalties stalled the Lancers’ game-opening drive in their WPIAL Class A Big Seven Conference game Saturday at Shenango, and fumbles ended two of the next three. Nevertheless, a defensive score followed by offensive touchdowns on Neshannock’s four other first-half possessions built a mercy-rule lead by intermission, and the Lancers ultimately rolled to a 49-6 decision.
Neshannock improved to 4-0 both overall and in conference play, it’s the first such start since 1976.
“We were definitely sloppy tonight with penalties,” said Neshannock head coach Fred Mozzocio, whose team was flagged nine times for 90 yards. “That’s something we have to clean up. I’m not real happy with that.
“But at the same time, like I told the young men, when we do execute, we can be deadly.”
You’ll get no argument about that from Shenango head coach Ryan Mayo.
“They proved they were the better football team, no doubt about it,” Mayo said. “Did we have chances early? Yes, but we weren’t able to make the most of them.
“They won every facet of the football game — offense, defense, special teams. When that’s the case, you don’t have a shot, and we didn’t have a shot after the first quarter.”
Quarterback Ernie Burkes ran for touchdowns of 54 and 37 yards, while also throwing 31 yards to Alex Welker for a touchdown. Burkes, who compiled 95 yards on six carries and completed 9 of 11 passes for 100 yards, also opened the scoring on defense when he scooped up a Tyler Welsh fumble and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
It was the third fumble returned for a touchdown in four games for Shenango (1-3, 1-3).
“You’re not going to win too many games when you keep doing that,” Mayo noted.
Mozzocio praised Burkes’ performance, but called it just one part of the puzzle.
“Ernie is always Johnny-on-the-spot,” he said. “He’s a clutch player, and we rally around him — as we do all our guys. It’s a team effort; everybody contributed. When one of these guys gets the ball, somebody’s busting their hump to try to get a block for him.”
Running back Elijah Owens also enjoyed a stellar outing, with 131 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Others who scored were Kienan Owens on a 2-yard run and Matt Davies on a 54-yard breakaway.
Meanwhile, the Lancers’ defense was nothing short of suffocating. Take away Welsh’s 83-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half, and Neshannock surrendered just 52 yards on the ground and 64 overall.
“Let me give props right now to Coach (Ryan) Firmi, Coach (Rocco) Fazio, Coach (Matt) Barge and Coach (Mark) Zingaro,” Mozzocio said. “They had our defense hyped all week, and they did an excellent job preparing our young men. They responded to them.
“We wanted to put a goose egg on (Shenango), but they did break one run. Those coaches just did a great job, and it paid off tonight. I think that was the key.”
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*****
NESHANNOCK SHENANGO
16 First downs 4
331 Yards Rushing 161
14 Yards Lost 26
317 Net Rushing 135
11 Passes Attempted 3
9 Passes Completed 1
0 Passes Intercepted 0
100 Yards Passing 12
417 Total Yards 147
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 2-2
3-23.3 Punts-Average 6-28
9-90 Penalties-Yards 4-30
NESHANNOCLK 14 21 7 7 — 49
SHENANGO 0 0 6 - — 6
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — Ernie Burkes, 25-yard fumble return (Connor Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Eli Owens, 10-yard run (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Burkes, 54-yard run (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Burkes, 37-yard run (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Alex Welker, 31-yard pass from Burkes (Richards kick).
SHENANGO — Tyler Welsh, 83-yard run (pass failed).
NESHANNOCK — Kienan Owens, 2-yard run (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Matt Davies, 54-yard run (Richards kick).
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