Neshannock advances
Neshannock (24) vs. Monessen (21)
Written: Nov 10, 2012
By Andrew Petyak
New Castle News
Fourth down was haunting the Neshannock High football team.
However, when the Lancers needed it most, they were able to exorcise their demons.
A fourth-and-10 conversion by John Conglose in the waning moments set-up a game-winning 1-yard run by Neshannock quarterback Ernie Burkes to give the team a shocking 24-21 victory over Monessen in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL playoffs last night.
With the win, the 13th-seeded Lancers (10-1) will play top-seeded Clairton (11-0) in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Friday at a site to be determined.
“They came through,” an emotional Lancers coach Fred Mozzocio said. “I couldn’t be prouder of our football team. It’s an unbelievable effort. I have to tell a little buddy of mine, Anthony Cioffi, who I coach, who just had surgery. This one is for you buddy.”
The Lancers continued their Cinderella season the hard way, erasing an 11-point deficit in the second half for the win.
“That was a flat-out war out there, and we knew it was going to be coming in,” Mozzocio said. “People still doubt us a little bit, but they can’t anymore. We’re a team to be reckoned with.”
An anticipated slugfest only yielded 10 first-half points. Neshannock held a 3-0 lead late in the first half on the strength of a 22-yard field goal by Connor Richards. But the Greyhounds were able to convert a fourth-and-17 to prolong a drive just before the half. Bruising Monessen running back Clintell Gillaspie plowed his way in from three yards out to give the Greyhounds a 7-3 lead with a minute to go in the half.
Greyhounds quarterback Chavas Rawlins, a West Virginia University recruit, led the team on a seven minute drive in the second half that ended with another Gillaspie run from 23 yards out to give the team a 14-3 lead. Again, Neshannock was tested with a fourth-and-17 opportunity and failed to get off the field as Rawlins ran for 20 yards to extend the drive.
“They made big plays all night on fourth down,” Mozzocio said. “Gillaspie, he pounded it at us, and we just kept telling the kids to keep them in front of us.”
With fifth-seeded Monessen (9-2) seemingly in cruise control on offense and time running out in the third quarter, the Lancers’ passing game came to life.
A nifty 13-yard touch pass from Burkes to Conglose capped-off a 10-play drive that cut Neshannock’s deficit to 14-10.
“All I could think about was the Sto-Rox game we were losing big earlier in the season,” Burkes said. “When we’re down, I feel like we are a better team because we all band together.”
After a Greyhounds three-and-out, it was sophomore running back Eli Owens’ turn to grab the spotlight on the offensive side of the ball, as he raced 46 yards for a score to give the Lancers the lead once more, 17-14. Owens led the team with 100 yards rushing on 14 carries with one score. He also had an interception in the first half, his second in as many weeks.
“Eli Owens stepped up big for us,” Mozzocio said. “He’s been doing it all year, and he played a great game defensively for us tonight. He made some hard runs when we needed him to and he obviously broke the long run.”
Deep into the fourth quarter, Monessen leaned heavily on Gillaspie (18 carries, 99 yards, three touchdowns). His efforts got the Greyhounds to the Lancers’ 20, facing a fourth-and-10. Neshannock failed for the third time on the down, as Rawlins connected with Gillaspie for a 20-yard score to give the team the 21-17 edge with two minutes to play. But It didn’t discourage the Neshannock sideline.
“When there was two minutes left on the clock, I just turned around and I told them we’re going to win the game,” Mozzocio said. “They can’t stop us.”
The Lancers didn’t disappoint. A big fourth-down conversion to Conglose kept the drive alive. Burkes found his way into the end zone on the next play to cap the upset. In this case, the fourth time on fourth down was the charm.
(Email: a_petyak@ncnewsonline.com)
WPIAL CLASS A PLAYOFFS
AT CHARTIERS-HOUSTON
NESHANNOCK MONESSEN
18 First downs 18
210 Yards Rushing 235
4 Yards Lost 18
206 Net Rushing 217
20....Passes Attempted 14
11 Passes Completed 7
1 Passes Intercepted 2
139 Yards Passing 130
345 Total Yards 347
0-0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0
2-30.0. Punts-Average 2-49.5
8-60......Penalties-Yards 8-84
NESHANNOCK 3 0 7 14 — 24
MONESSEN 0 7 7 7 — 21
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — Connor Richards, 22-yard field goal.
MONESSEN — Clintell Gillaspie, 3-yard run (Alex Piccarelli kick).
MONESSEN — Gillaspie, 23-yard run (Piccarelli kick).
NESHANNOCK — John Conglose, 13-yard pass from Ernie Burkes (Richards kick).
NESHANNOCK — Eli Owens, 46-yard run (Richards kick).
MONESSEN — Gillaspie, 20-yard pass from Chavas Rawlings (Piccarelli kick).
NESHANNOCK — Burkes, 1-yard run (Richards kick).
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