Neshannock rolls to win over Western Beaver
Neshannock (36) vs. Western Beaver (8)
Written: Oct 05, 2015
By Joe Sager
New Castle News
INDUSTRY — With swampy conditions on a grass field and a steady rain, Western Beaver thought it could contain Neshannock by stopping the run.
The Golden Beavers were only partially correct in their thinking. They silenced the Lancers’ rushing game, but Neshannock attacked through the air and posted a 36-8 win Saturday in a Big Seven Conference game at Rich Niedbala Field.
The Lancers (3-1 conference, 4-1 overall) were limited to 53 yards on the ground. However, they passed for 352 yards and Frank Antuono fired five touchdown passes to lead the way. In a 20-12 loss at Shenango in Week 2 in similar conditions, Neshannock struggled to get a consistent passing game going.
“They came out and stacked the box and made a concerted effort to stop the run. We took what they gave us and it was the pass and we had to capitalize on it. We did it in some sloppy conditions,” Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio said. “Earlier in the year, we didn’t throw the ball well in these conditions. That was a positive, if there is any.”
Antuono completed 20 of 34 passes for 351 yards, but the totals could have been much higher as a handful of aerials slipped through receivers’ hands.
“It was a pretty wet game and we dropped a few balls, but Frankie threw them out there and we were able to get a lot of them,” Neshannock’s Danny Welker said. “We try to spread the ball around and get as many people involved as possible.”
Six different Lancers had receptions. Welker was the top target as he hauled in six passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
“As the season continues to progress, Danny Welker continues to get better and better,” Mozzocio said. “He is only going to grow as a player as the season goes on.”
Neshannock scored on the game’s first drive as Robert Lindsey bowled his way in from the 2 just 1:03 into the contest.
The Golden Beavers (0-4, 0-5) mishandled the ensuing kickoff and the Lancers recovered. Antuono connected with Lindsey for a 33-yard scoring strike and a 12-0 lead 1:13 after the first score.
“It was good,” Welker said. “We wanted to come out and set the tone early.”
Neshannock pushed its lead to 24-0 at halftime on a pair of Welker touchdowns. He hauled in a 40-yard scoring strike from Antuono early in the frame and added a 12-yard TD reception with 5:26 left in the half.
Greg Fornataro caught an eight-yard TD pass from Antuono late in the third quarter for a 30-0 lead. Andrew Cipriano added a one-yard TD catch four seconds into the fourth for a 36-0 advantage. That triggered the 35-point mercy rule.
Western Beaver scored just its second touchdown of the season late in the contest after a botched punt attempt set up the hosts deep in Neshannock territory. Jeddy Young snagged a 16-yard scoring strike from Louie Hapach with 1:04 left. Gary Smith ran in the conversion to more than double the team’s point total on the year. The Golden Beavers entered the game with only six points scored.
The Lancers return to action at 7 p.m. Friday on the road against Vincentian Academy (1-2, 1-4).
“Day by day, we’re trying to work on the little things and get better. It got pretty sloppy out here at the end,” Mozzocio said. “Overall, I think at halftime, they had two total yards. Our defense did a good job and we moved the ball through the air because of the way they were playing us defensively.”
BOX SCORE
NESHANNOCK
AT WESTERN BEAVER
NESHANNOCK WESTERN BEAVER
21 First downs 8
78 Yards Rushing 117
25 Yards Lost 19
53 Net Rushing 98
36 Passes Attempted 5
21 Passes Completed 2
0 Passes Intercepted 1
352 Yards Passing 14
405 Total Yards 112
1-1 Fumbles-Lost 3-3
0-0 Punts-Average 6-26.8
6-57 Penalties-Yards 6-40
NESHANNOCK 12 12 6 6 — 36
W. BEAVER 0 0 0 8 — 8
Scoring plays
NESHANNOCK — Robert Lindsey, 2-yard run (kick failed).
NESHANNOCK — Lindsey, 33-yard pass from Frank Antuono (kick failed).
NESHANNOCK — Danny Welker, 40-yard pass from Anutono (pass failed).
NESHANNOCK — Welker, 12-yard pass from Antuono (pass failed).
NESHANNOCK — Greg Fornataro, 8-yard pass from Antuono (kick failed).
NESHANNOCK — Andrew Cipriano, 1-yard pass from Antuono (kick failed).
WESTERN BEAVER — Jeddy Young, 16-yard pass from Louie Hapach (Gary Smith run).
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