Monaca blanks Union
Union (0) vs. Monaca (29)
Written: Sep 27, 2008
By RON PONIEWASZ JR.
rponiewasz@ncnewsonline.com
The struggles continue for the Union High football team.
The Scotties managed just 165 yards of total offense in a 29-0 loss to Monaca last night in a Big Seven Conference matchup.
Union (0-3 conference, 1-4 overall) has not scored in 13 consecutive quarters dating back to a 21-0 win over Wilkinsburg in the second week.
“It’s not a good streak to have, that’s for sure,” Scotties coach Stacy Robinson said. “We just have to come out and get back to the drawing board and try and be a better football team.
“We have some players, we just can’t get in the end zone.”
Penalties continue to plague the Scotties. They where whistled for 13 infractions against the Indians for 100 yards.
“It’s been a problem all year,” Robinson said. “I don’t know what happens.
“I’m not making excuses for our numbers. I don’t know if fatigue sets in. Whatever the reason, we have to get better because it’s costing us games.”
Monaca (2-1, 4-1) got to Union quarterback Mike Pelto repeatedly. The Indians harassed Pelto into three interceptions, recorded six sacks, and hit the senior signal caller on just about every pass attempt.
“Defense has been one of our strengths,” Monaca coach Sam Cercone said. “Our linebackers played well tonight.
“We tried to get to the quarterback and put heat on him so he didn’t have time to throw it.”
Pelto finished 7 of 23 for 118 yards. He was just 1 of 11 through the air in the second half, including 0 of 7 in the final frame.
Monaca held a narrow 7-0 lead at halftime. The Indians missed out on a chance to widen the lead when John Lord’s 29-yard field goal on the final play of the half sailed wide.
Monaca’s Tony Reda hit Skyler Schultz on a halfback pass for 44 yards to set up the field goal try with just two seconds left.
“We blew the coverage,” Robinson said. “They were going for the bomb and I think we bit on the curl for some reason. Thank goodness they didn’t convert.”
The Indians took control when Reda ran in from nine yards out for a 14-0 lead with 4:52 left in the third quarter. Reda ran over the entire Scotties defense en route to the end zone, carrying tacklers with him.
“Tony is coming along,” Cercone said. “He’s a veteran running back and we’re trying to get him the ball.”
Union’s best chance to score came when Andre Jones scooped up a fumble and raced 21 yards down to the Indians’ 31 with just under eight minutes remaining in the contest. The Scotties turned the ball over on downs four plays later.
Reda scored Monaca’s first two touchdowns and Schultz tallied the final pair. Reda notched a game-best 110 yards rushing on 17 attempts.
The Indians also had their share of penalties, committing 11 infractions for 95 yards.
“They called a lot of holding and that’s part of the game,” Cercone said. “This is probably the most we’ve had in any game this year.
“We told the kids at halftime that we are killing ourselves with penalties. That’s something you can’t do against the teams in this conference because the teams are that good.”
Union’s lone bright spot didn’t come until the game’s final drive. Chris Waters rushed for a team-best 43 yards on three carries.
The Scotties return to action at 7:30 p.m. Friday when they travel to Laurel for a Big Seven Conference clash.
MONACA UNION
13 First downs 8
229 Yards Rushing 95
12 Yards Lost 48
217 Net Rushing 47
7 Passes Attempted 23
4 Passes Completed 7
0 Passes Intercepted 3
108 Yards Passing 118
325 Total Yards 165
3-2 Fumbles-Lost 3-1
5-30.6 Punts-Average 6-28.3
11-95 Penalties-Yards 13-100
MONACA 7 0 14 8 — 29
UNION 0 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring plays
MONACA — Tony Reda, 15-yard run (John Lord kick).
MONACA — Reda, 9-yard run (Lord kick).
MONACA — Skyler Schultz, 4-yard run (Lord kick).
MONACA — Schultz, 34-yard run (Brock Grady run).
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